The terrains of both Antarctica and the northern Arctic are brutal, unforgiving, and covered in icy dangers. Commuting to work in these places is probably a nightmare, so researchers and Russians have had to get creative with their rides.

These are some of the coolest vehicles humanity has ever conjured, and they’re rarely even seen since they’re for such a specific use. There are motorized slides, sci-fi-looking jet-skis, monstrous ice breaker ships, and some of the weirdest, wildest wheels built for trampling the snow. The art of ice-conquering machines goes way back to the earliest expeditions, and the vintage stuff is just as fascinating and mind-blowing as what Arctic engineers are coming up with in modern times.