Kogalym founded in 1978, and received city status in 1985. Located at the banks of the river Inga-Yagun. The name is translated from the Khanty as "the swamp, the worst place to be". The area is 20.5 sq. km, population – more than 59 thousand inhabitants. The city has an international airport.
The climate is sharply continental with cold winters lasting more than six months, and moderately warm summer, cloudy.