Burns Lake, Canada

Life in this remote village is no walk in the park. With just 1,659 residents as of the 2021 census, Burns Lake has a population density of 253.7 per square kilometer - hardly the bustling metropolis some might expect. The tax burden is heavy, as the town serves as a hub for the logging, mining, and tourism industries that dominate the region. And while the 376.5 hours of sunshine recorded in June 1982 were a record for British Columbia, the winters are notoriously brutal, with an average snowfall of 190 cm. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the town's twisting, narrow main road makes transportation of large loads a constant challenge. This isolated outpost in the Lakes District is best suited for those with a deep love of the outdoors and a high tolerance for remote, rugged living.