20 Saddest Cities in the World

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1. Norilsk

Topping our list of the saddest cities in the world is Norilsk. Why is Norilsk described as the most depressing city in the world? To begin, this remote city in Russia has a yearly temperature of minus 30 degrees Celsius on average, darkness that can last for days at a time, a poor life expectancy rate, and a river that is blood crimson. According to Unilad, the month of January sees temperatures dip to an average low of -30 degrees Celsius, while record lows have plunged to an astonishing minus 53.1 degrees Celsius as well. Moreover, the river through the city has turned red as a result of a spill of 21,000 tons of diesel that occurred two years ago when a reservoir for an oil tank failed. During the course of an average year in Norilsk, there are 45 days in which there is no light at all. High levels of pollution in the city have also resulted in a reduction in the average age to 59, which is ten years less than the average life expectancy in Russia. Notably, the population of Norilsk has only had access to a reliable internet connection since 2017. Additionally, there are no roads that link to the city, and the only mode of transportation that enters and exits the city is a freight railway. These circumstances all together contribute to making Norilsk one of the 20 saddest cities in the world.

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Disclosure: None. 20 Saddest Cities in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.

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