Kyzyl, Russia

Capital City

With a population of just 131,981, Kyzyl is a small and isolated city in the heart of Siberia. The frigid climate is punishing, with temperatures plunging below -20°C (-4°F) in winter and rarely rising above freezing between November and February. Severe air pollution from temperature inversions is a persistent headache for residents. Despite its claim to be the geographic center of Asia, Kyzyl remains a remote and bureaucratic outpost, served by a skeletal airport and lacking reliable rail connections. This bleak, windswept city is best suited for the most hardy and adventurous travelers.