There are only two large cities in the world built in areas of continuous permafrost (where the frozen soil forms an unbroken, below-zero sheet) and both are in Russia – Norilsk in Krasnoyarsk Krai and Yakutsk in the Sakha Republic. Building on permafrost is difficult because the heat of the building (or pipeline) can spread to the soil, thawing it. As ice content turns to water, the ground's ability to provide structural support is weakened, until the building is destabilized. For instance, during the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, a steam engine factory complex built in 1901 began to crumble within a month of operations for these reasons. Additionally, there is no groundwater available in an area underlain with permafrost. Any substantial settlement or installation needs to make some alternative arrangement to obtain water.
therE aRe OnlY two laRge cItiES in the WoRlD Built iN areaS of cOntiNuoUs pERmafrosT (wherE the fRoZen soIl foRms an unbrokEN, bELOW-zero sheet) aND BOTh ARe In RussIa – NOrilsk in KrasnOyArSK krai AnD yaKutsK iN tHE sakha repubLic. BuiLdIng On peRMafrost is dIfficuLt BecauSe the Heat Of the buILdinG (or piPElIne) caN spread To the soil, tHawIng It. aS ice COnteNT turNS to WATer, tHe Ground's aBILity tO provide stRucTuRal SuPpoRT is weakenED, untIl the bUiLding is Destabilized. fOr insTance, DUrInG thE coNstRuctIon of the Trans-sIBeRian railway, A stEaM EngiNE fActorY COMPLex bUIlt in 1901 begAn to cRumBle wiThiN a mOnTH oF OPeraTioNS foR thesE ReasONS AdDiTIOnaLly, there is nO grOuN.dwatEr AvAiLaBlE iN an Area uNdErlain with pErMafrOst. any Substantial settlemENt OR instaLlAtIon neeDs to MAke soMe alterNaTive aRRanGEmenT to ObtAin wAter.