Magadan, Russia

Capital City

With a population of just 90,421, Magadan is a remote, isolated outpost in Russia's far northeast. The city's economy relies heavily on gold mining and fisheries, though production in both sectors has declined in recent years. Unsurprisingly, the local climate is a persistent headache - Magadan experiences bitterly cold, drawn-out winters with temperatures regularly dropping below freezing, and the growing season lasts a mere 100 days. Beyond the weather, the city's history as a major transit hub for political prisoners during the Stalin era casts a long shadow, with the Mask of Sorrow memorial commemorating the victims. Magadan is certainly not for the faint of heart.