Summer is hot. That’s the whole point. It’s the season of pool parties, beach trips, backyard barbecues — of T-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops. We crank up the AC in summer, turn on the fans, sip iced tea or cold lager or chilled rosé.

But not every place on earth gets hot in summer. Some stay pleasingly cool, never becoming sweltering. Others descend into sweater weather, and might even have you reaching for your parka.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed average monthly temperatures for thousands of weather stations around the world from NOAA. We identified the 51 places on Earth where it gets the coldest in the summer months. We’re talking about summer in the traditional sense of June, July, and August (or December, January, and February in the Southern Hemisphere).

As you might expect, Canada, the Russian Federation, and Scandinavia feature prominently on the list. Only two U.S. areas make the cut, though — one in Alaska, the other (perhaps unexpectedly) in Oregon.

We’ve left continental Antarctica out of our calculations simply because it would sweep the board if we left it in. While temperatures above 50º F have occasionally been recorded on the coast there during the South Pole summer (December through February), inland temperatures in the same season generally top out at -22º Fahrenheit — not exactly beach or iced tea weather.

Click here to see the 51 coldest places on Earth in the dead of summer.
Click here to see our detailed findings and full methodology.

Correction: Due to a transcription error, Crater Lake, Oregon, #41 on our list, was incorrectly named Harbor Lake, Oregon in a previous version of this article. This error has been corrected.

51. Stakksey, Iceland
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 47.3° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 41.7° F summer of 1882
> Latitude, Longitude: 65.1, -22.7
> Elevation: 26 feet

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50. Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 47.3° F in December
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 43.3° F summer of 1940
> Latitude, Longitude: -54.8, -68.3
> Elevation: 46 feet

49. Churchill, Canada
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 46.4° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 33.9° F summer of 1902
> Latitude, Longitude: 58.7, -94.1
> Elevation: 95 feet

48. Cartwright, Canada
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 46.4° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 41.9° F summer of 1943
> Latitude, Longitude: 53.7, -57.0
> Elevation: 46 feet

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47. Dombås, Norway
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 46.4° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 38.3° F summer of 1923
> Latitude, Longitude: 62.1, 9.3
> Elevation: 3,196 feet

46. Taymyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky District, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 46.2° F in August
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 43.3° F summer of 1937
> Latitude, Longitude: 72.0, 102.5
> Elevation: 108 feet

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45. Ayan, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 46.0° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 36.1° F summer of 1960
> Latitude, Longitude: 56.5, 138.2
> Elevation: 26 feet

44. Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 46.0° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 35.1° F summer of 1919
> Latitude, Longitude: 64.8, 177.6
> Elevation: 200 feet

43. Baker Lake, Canada
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 45.7° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 32.7° F summer of 1950
> Latitude, Longitude: 64.3, -96.1
> Elevation: 59 feet

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42. Inukjuak, Canada
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 45.7° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 31.1° F summer of 1922
> Latitude, Longitude: 58.5, -78.1
> Elevation: 20 feet

41. Crater Lake, Oregon, United States of America
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 45.6° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 38.1° F summer of 1953
> Latitude, Longitude:  42.9, -122.1
> Elevation: 50 feet

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40. Kunashir Island, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 45.3° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 39.8° F summer of 1983
> Latitude, Longitude: 44.0, 145.9
> Elevation: 161 feet

39. French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 45.3° F in January
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 42.1° F summer of 1956
> Latitude, Longitude: -49.4, 70.3
> Elevation: 98 feet

38. Darlag, Golog, Qinghai, China
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 45.1° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 43.9° F summer of 1963
> Latitude, Longitude: 33.8, 99.7
> Elevation: 13,018 feet

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37. Kuujjuaq, Canada
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 44.8° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 38.1° F summer of 1956
> Latitude, Longitude: 58.1, -68.4
> Elevation: 118 feet

36. Transvaal Cove, South Africa
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 44.6° F in December
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 40.0° F summer of 1956
> Latitude, Longitude: -46.9, 37.9
> Elevation: 72 feet

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35. Murmansk, Murmansk Oblast, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 44.4° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 40.6° F summer of 1982
> Latitude, Longitude: 69.0, 33.0
> Elevation: 167 feet

34. MacQuarie Island, Australia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 44.3° F in December
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 39.9° F summer of 1963
> Latitude, Longitude: -54.5, 158.9
> Elevation: 26 feet

33. Schwende District, Switzerland
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 44.2° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 30.2° F summer of 1884
> Latitude, Longitude: 47.3, 9.4
> Elevation: 8,202 feet

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32. Île de la Possession, Territory of the french southern and antarctic lands
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 44.1° F in December
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 39.7° F summer of 1976
> Latitude, Longitude: -46.4, 51.9
> Elevation: 469 feet

31. Naryan-Mar, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 43.9° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 37.0° F summer of 1969
> Latitude, Longitude: 67.6, 53.0
> Elevation: 39 feet

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30. Nikolskoye, Kamchatka Krai, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 43.0° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 38.7° F summer of 1903
> Latitude, Longitude: 55.2, 166.0
> Elevation: 59 feet

29. Coral Harbour, Canada
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 43.0° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 27.9° F summer of 1972
> Latitude, Longitude: 64.2, -83.4
> Elevation: 210 feet

28. Rasnov, Romania
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 42.4° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 33.9° F summer of 1949
> Latitude, Longitude: 45.5, 25.4
> Elevation: 8,232 feet

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27. Vardo, Norway
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 42.3° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 37.2° F summer of 1902
> Latitude, Longitude: 70.4, 31.1
> Elevation: 49 feet

26. South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, United Kingdom
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 41.7° F in January
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 35.8° F summer of 1950
> Latitude, Longitude: -54.3, -36.5
> Elevation: 10 feet

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25. Golmud, Haixi, Qinghai, China
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 41.5° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 39.2° F summer of 1983
> Latitude, Longitude: 34.2, 92.4
> Elevation: 14,879 feet

24. Prince Christian Sound, Greenland
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 41.2° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 37.9° F summer of 1970
> Latitude, Longitude: 60.0, -43.2
> Elevation: 243 feet

23. Kitikmeot Region, Canada
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 40.8° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 28.0° F summer of 1978
> Latitude, Longitude: 69.1, -105.1
> Elevation: 89 feet

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22. Nunavut, Canada
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 40.3° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 31.8° F summer of 1972
> Latitude, Longitude: 63.8, -68.6
> Elevation: 69 feet

21. Svalbard, Norway
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 40.3° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 36.1° F summer of 1987
> Latitude, Longitude: 78.3, 15.5
> Elevation: 95 feet

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20. Tasiilaq, Greenland
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 40.1° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 36.7° F summer of 2012
> Latitude, Longitude: 65.6, -37.6
> Elevation: 171 feet

19. Nuuk, Greenland
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 39.7° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 33.0° F summer of 1972
> Latitude, Longitude: 64.2, -51.8
> Elevation: 230 feet

18. Allaikhovsky District, Sakha Republic, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 38.7° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 34.5° F summer of 1996
> Latitude, Longitude: 70.6, 147.9
> Elevation: 200 feet

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17. Ehrwald, Germany
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 38.3° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 27.2° F summer of 1956
> Latitude, Longitude: 47.4, 11.0
> Elevation: 9,718 feet

16. Heiligenblut, Austria
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 38.3° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 24.3° F summer of 1923
> Latitude, Longitude: 47.1, 12.9
> Elevation: 10,200 feet

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15. Aasiaat, Greenland
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 37.6° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 33.4° F summer of 1978
> Latitude, Longitude: 68.7, -52.8
> Elevation: 135 feet

14. Yuzhny Island, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 36.9° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 33.2° F summer of 1917
> Latitude, Longitude: 72.4, 52.7
> Elevation: 49 feet

13. Zapolyarny District, Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 36.7° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 31.7° F summer of 1969
> Latitude, Longitude: 68.7, 43.3
> Elevation: 161 feet

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12. Bjørnøya (Bear Island), Norway
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 36.3° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 32.5° F summer of 1982
> Latitude, Longitude: 74.5, 19.0
> Elevation: 52 feet

11. Kaktovic, United States of America
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 36.1° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 32.5° F summer of 2011
> Latitude, Longitude: 70.1, -143.6
> Elevation: 49 feet

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10. Hall Beach, Canada
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 36.1° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 25.2° F summer of 1972
> Latitude, Longitude: 68.8, -81.3
> Elevation: 26 feet

9. Eureka, Canada
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 34.5° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 29.1° F summer of 1974
> Latitude, Longitude: 80.0, -85.9
> Elevation: 33 feet

8. Northeast Greenland National Park, Greenland
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 34.2° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 29.3° F summer of 2006
> Latitude, Longitude: 76.8, -18.7
> Elevation: 39 feet

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7. Dikson, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 33.4° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 28.1° F summer of 1926
> Latitude, Longitude: 73.5, 80.4
> Elevation: 154 feet

6. North Greenland, Greenland
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 33.4° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 27.9° F summer of 2018
> Latitude, Longitude: 81.6, -16.7
> Elevation: 112 feet

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5. Lapdev Sea, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 31.5° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 28.0° F summer of 1941
> Latitude, Longitude: 76.0, 137.9
> Elevation: 26 feet

4. Resolute, Canada
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 31.3° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 24.8° F summer of 1974
> Latitude, Longitude: 74.7, -95.0
> Elevation: 220 feet

3. Taymyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky District, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 29.3° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 24.8° F summer of 1933
> Latitude, Longitude: 77.7, 104.3
> Elevation: 49 feet

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2. Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 28.9° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 28.2° F summer of 2014
> Latitude, Longitude: 79.5, 77.0
> Elevation: 36 feet

1. Heiss Island, Russia
> Avg. temp. during coldest summer month: 28.8° F in June
> Coldest avg. summer temp on record: 27.5° F summer of 2014
> Latitude, Longitude: 80.6, 58.1
> Elevation: 66 feet

Detailed Findings & Methodology:

Why is summer hot? It’s not, as many people think, because the earth is closer to the sun in the summer months. In fact, it isn’t. It’s the farthest from the sun in July and the closest in January.

Summers are hot not because of the sun’s proximity but because of the angle with which the sun rays hit us. In summer, because of the earth’s axial tilt as it rotates, the rays shoot down at a steep angle, concentrating the amount of energy that hits any given spot. In winter, the angle is shallow, meaning the rays are more diffuse.

When you point a flashlight straight ahead, it throws a strong beam in a fairly tight circle; if you hold it on a slant, as when you’re using it to light your way down a nighttime path, it covers more area but not as brightly. Same idea.

Another factor in making summers hot is that, again due to the nature of the earth’s rotation, there are more hours of sunlight, allowing the earth and anything on it (like buildings and deserts) to absorb and retain more heat.

There are a number of reasons why some places are colder than others in what are otherwise the warmer months. To begin with, it’s a matter of the sun’s angle again. The sun hits the equator directly — like that flashlight pointed straight. In places like Northern Russia and southern Argentina, the rays are more spread out and thus weaker.

Altitude can be a factor, too. The higher you go, the thinner the atmosphere (that’s why it’s harder to breathe in Aspen than in Nantucket), so there’s less matter (fewer molecules), in it. The amount of heat in the atmosphere is directly related to the amount of matter it contains, so less matter, less heat. Remember, too, that when you’re up on a mountain, you’re also closer to the coldness of space.

To identify the coldest place on Earth in the dead of summer, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the average monthly temperature for the coldest summer month (June-August for areas in the Northern Hemisphere, December-February for areas in the Southern Hemisphere) from a universe of 7,280 weather stations around the world for the year 2017.

Weather station data is from The Global Historical Climatology Network-Monthly (GHCN-M) version 3, a program of the North Atlantic Atmospheric Association (NOAA). Geographic locations are listed as the closest area to the coordinates given for the weather stations whose data is used. All other data was also obtained from the GHCN-M.

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