About Vostok Station: Vostok sits high on Antarctica's frozen plateau, the coldest place on the planet. Buried under about 4 km of ice below it lies a hidden lake sealed off for millions of years. Only a handful of scientists brave its endless winter night. In winter the sun does not rise for months

Location: Deep inside East Antarctica · Country: Antarctica · Record: −89.2°C (−128.6°F) in 1983 the lowest air temperature ever recorded · Why So Cold: High up on the ice sheet, far from the sea, in months of winter darkness · Elevation: About 3,500 m (11,400 ft) up on the polar plateau · People: Only scientists live here, in a small research station · Notable Feature: A giant hidden lake, Lake Vostok, lies far below the ice · World Rank: The coldest place ever recorded on Earth