Driving the remote A331 road on the edge of the Arctic Circle
A331 is the name of a very remote and lonely road located on the edge of the Arctic Circle, in Russia.
Tucked away in the Siberian region of eastern Russia, the road also known as the Vilyuy Highway, runs from Yakutsk (the coldest city in the world, capital city of the Sakha Republic) to Tulun (a town in Irkutsk Oblast). Ideal time to travel is daylight. Not advised night drive. The road is 1.167km (725 miles) long, and mostly unpaved. Only 30km (18 miles) near its start are paved. In order to complete the drive is necessary to take a ferry across the Vilyuy River.
The road is not easy. Winters are severely cold and long. The area is known for its extreme climate. The average temperature in January is -46 degrees Fahrenheit (-43.5 degrees Celsius). It’s heavily used by mine trucks. After rains or snow, a 4x4 vehicle is required.