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Archipelago

    Arctic OceanRussia

    80°34′N 54°47′E

    Franz Josef Land

    Земля Франца Иосифа

    Franz Josef Land (Russian: Земля́ Фра́нца-Ио́сифа, romanized: Zemlya Frantsa-Iosifa) is a Russian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. It is inhabited only by military personnel, and has never had a permanent population.

    Fisher's Cape of Salisbury Island, Franz Joseph Land: Russian Arctic National Park, Russia
    Fisher's Cape of Salisbury Island, Franz Joseph Land: Russian Arctic National Park, Russia

    Kirill.uyutnov / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Chart

    170 landforms

    Overview

    Franz Josef Land (Russian: Земля́ Фра́нца-Ио́сифа, romanized: Zemlya Frantsa-Iosifa) is a Russian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. It is inhabited only by military personnel, and has never had a permanent population. It constitutes the northernmost part of Arkhangelsk Oblast and consists of 192 islands, which cover an area of 16,134 square kilometers (6,229 sq mi), stretching 375 kilometers (233 mi) from east to west and 234 kilometers (145 mi) from north to south. The islands are categorized in three groups (western, central, and eastern) separated by the British Channel and the Austrian Strait. The central group is further divided into a northern and southern section by the Markham Sound. The largest island is Prince George Land, which measures 2,741 square kilometers (1,058 sq mi), followed by Wilczek Land, Graham Bell Island and Alexandra Land. Approximately 85% of the archipelago is glaciated, with large unglaciated areas on the largest islands and many of the smallest ones. The islands have a combined coastline of 4,425 kilometers (2,750 mi). Compared to other Arctic archipelagos, Franz Josef Land is highly dissected, as a result of it being heavily glaciated, with a very low ratio of total area to coastline of only approximately 3.6 square kilometers per coastline kilometer. Cape Fligely on Rudolf Island is the northernmost point of the Eastern Hemisphere. The highest elevations are found in the central and eastern group, with the highest point located on Wiener Neustadt Island, 620 meters (2,030 ft) above mean sea level. The archipelago was first spotted by the Norwegian sailors Nils Fredrik Rønnbeck and Johan Petter Aidijärvi in 1865, although they did not report their finding. The first reported finding was in the 1873 Austro-Hungarian North Pole expedition led by Julius von Payer and Karl Weyprecht, who named the area after Emperor Franz Joseph I. In 1926, the Soviet Union annexed the islands, which were known at the time as Fridtjof Nansen Land, and settled small outposts for research and military purposes. The Kingdom of Norway rejected the claim and several private expeditions were sent to the islands. With the Cold War, the islands became off limits for foreigners and two military airfields were built. The islands have been a nature sanctuary since 1994 and became part of the Russian Arctic National Park in 2012.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Census, cataloged

    • Major islands14
    • Minor islands91
    • Islets21
    • Rocks & skerries44

    Major islands

    14
    • Zemlya Georga

      Zemlya Georga

      Area
      2,658 km²
      High point
      431 m

      Zemlya Georga, or Prince George Land (Russian: Земля Георга; Zemlya Georga, "George Land"), is the largest island in Franz Josef Land, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russian Arctic.

    • Wilczek Land

      Wilczek Land

      Area
      1,982 km²
      High point
      593 m

      Wilczek Land (Russian: Земля Вильчека; Zemlya Vil'cheka, German: Wilczek-Land), is an island in the Arctic Ocean at 80.58°N 60.5°E / 80.58; 60.5. At 2,000 km2 (770 sq mi) it is the second-largest island in Franz Josef Land, in Arctic Russia.

    • Graham Bell Island

      Graham Bell Island

      Area
      1,653 km²
      High point
      524 m

      Graham Bell Island (Russian: Остров Греэм-Белл, Ostrov Greem-Bell) is an island in the Franz Josef Archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, and is administratively part of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia.

    • Alexandra Land

      Alexandra Land

      Area
      1,009 km²
      High point
      377 m

      Alexandra Land (Russian: Земля Александры, romanized: Zemlya Aleksandry) is a large island located in Franz Josef Land, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Not counting detached and far-lying Victoria Island, it is the westernmost island of Franz Josef Land. It is the site of a Russian military base that was reopened in 2017.

    • Hall Island

      Hall Island

      Area
      936 km²
      High point
      507 m

      Hall Island (Russian: Остров Галля; Ostrov Gallya) is an island of the Russian Arctic archipelago of Franz Josef Land.

    • Salisbury Island

      Salisbury Island

      Area
      859 km²
      High point
      501 m

      Salisbury Island, (Russian: Остров Солсбери; Ostrov Solsberi) is an island located in the central area of Franz Josef Land, Russia.

    • McClintock Island

      McClintock Island

      Area
      598 km²
      High point
      516 m

      McClintock Island (Russian: Остров Мак-Клинтока; Ostrov Mak-Klintoka) is an island in Franz Josef Land, Russia.

    • Jackson Island

      Jackson Island

      Area
      477 km²
      High point
      472 m

      Jackson Island (Russian: Остров Джексона, Ostrov Dzheksona) is an island located in Franz Josef Land, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russian Federation. This island is part of the Zichy Land subgroup of the central part of the archipelago.

    • Hooker Island

      Hooker Island

      Area
      472 km²
      High point
      432 m

      Hooker Island (Russian: остров Гукера; Ostrov Gukera) is one of the central islands of Franz Josef Land. It is located in the central area of the archipelago at 80.23°N 53.02°E / 80.23; 53.02. It is administered by the Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia.

    • La Ronciere Island

      La Ronciere Island

      Area
      413 km²
      High point
      412 m

      La Ronciere Island (Russian: Остров Ла-Ронсьер, romanized: Ostrov La-Ronsier, also known as Ronser Island, is an island in Franz Josef Land, Russia.

    • Ziegler Island

      Ziegler Island

      Area
      376 km²
      High point
      529 m

      Ziegler Island (Russian: Остров Циглера; Ostrov Tsiglera) is an island in Franz Josef Land, Russia.

    • Champ Island

      Champ Island

      Area
      325 km²
      High point
      515 m

      Champ Island (Russian: Остров Чамп; Ostrov Champ) is the southernmost island of the Zichy group of islands, administratively located in the Primorsky district of Franz Josef Land, Russia. The highest point of the island is 507 meters above sea level. The area is 374 km².

    • Charles Alexander Island

      Charles Alexander Island

      Area
      321 km²
      High point
      361 m

      Karl Alexander Island (Russian: Остров Карла-Александра), also known as Zemlya Karla-Alexandra (Земля Карла Александра), is an island in Franz Josef Land, Russia.

    • Luigi Island

      Luigi Island

      Area
      303 km²
      High point
      445 m

      Luigi Island (Russian: Остров Луиджи; Ostrov Luidzhi) is an island in Franz Josef Land, Russian Federation.

    Minor islands

    91

    Islets

    21
    • Ostrov Al'batros42 m · 0.09 km²
    • Robertson Island9 m · 0.06 km²
    • Unnamed island3 m · 0.06 km²
    • Unnamed island3 m · 0.05 km²
    • Unnamed island0.04 km²
    • Ostrova Bisernyye2 m · 0.02 km²
    • Unnamed island4 m · 0.02 km²
    • Unnamed island1 m · 0.02 km²
    • Klyk15 m · 0.02 km²
    • Unnamed island0.01 km²
    • Unnamed island6 m · 1 ha
    • Unnamed island2 m · 1 ha

    Rocks & skerries

    44
    • Ivanov Island22 m · 0.09 km²
    • Unnamed island5 m · 0.09 km²
    • Unnamed island3 m · 0.09 km²
    • Unnamed island18 m · 0.08 km²
    • Unnamed island19 m · 0.08 km²
    • Unnamed island14 m · 0.07 km²
    • Unnamed island3 m · 0.07 km²
    • David Island10 m · 0.07 km²
    • Unnamed island2 m · 0.07 km²
    • Unnamed island2 m · 0.06 km²
    • Dead Seal Island2 m · 0.06 km²
    • Unnamed island0.06 km²

    Figures

    Comparative heights

    Sea level200 m400 m600 m800 m622 mWiener Neustadt593 mWilczek Land529 mZiegler524 mGraham Bell516 mMcClintock515 mChamp507 mHall501 mSalisbury481 mRudolf472 mJackson468 mGreely445 mLuigi443 mPayer440 mPritchett
    High points by island, metres above sea level.

    Islands by area

    0.00010.0010.010.11101001,00010,000Zemlya Georga: 2,658 km²Zemlya GeorgaWilczek Land: 1,982 km²Wilczek LandGraham Bell: 1,653 km²Graham BellAlexandra Land: 1,009 km²Alexandra LandHall: 936 km²HallSalisbury: 859 km²SalisburyMcClintock: 598 km²McClintockJackson: 477 km²JacksonHooker: 472 km²HookerLa Ronciere: 413 km²La RonciereZiegler: 376 km²ZieglerChamp: 325 km²ChampCharles Alexander: 321 km²Charles AlexanderLuigi: 303 km²LuigiRudolf: 283 km²RudolfSalm: 257 km²SalmEva-Liv: 240 km²Eva-LivWiener Neustadt: 227 km²Wiener NeustadtNorthbrook: 215 km²NorthbrookBruce: 170 km²BrucePayer: 145 km²PayerGreely: 143 km²GreelyNansen: 134 km²NansenRainer: 128 km²RainerHayes: 103 km²HayesArthur: 101 km²ArthurBrady: 74.2 km²BradyKoetlitz: 67.9 km²KoetlitzLeigh Smith: 55.1 km²Leigh SmithHofmann: 54.1 km²HofmannPritchett: 53.4 km²PritchettBromwich: 48.9 km²BromwichWilczek: 45.1 km²WilczekMabel: 41.6 km²MabelAlger: 38.6 km²AlgerBecker: 37.6 km²BeckerFreeden: 28.4 km²FreedenBrice: 26 km²BriceHohenlohe: 25.8 km²HohenloheKane: 23.5 km²Kane
    km², log scale. 3 without a known area.
    Zemlya Georga2,658 km²
    Wilczek Land1,982 km²
    Graham Bell Island1,653 km²
    Alexandra Land1,009 km²
    Hall Island936 km²
    Salisbury Island859 km²
    McClintock Island598 km²
    Jackson Island477 km²
    Hooker Island472 km²
    La Ronciere Island413 km²
    Ziegler Island376 km²
    Champ Island325 km²
    Charles Alexander Island321 km²
    Luigi Island303 km²
    Rudolf Island283 km²
    Salm Island257 km²
    Eva-Liv Island240 km²
    Wiener Neustadt Island227 km²
    Northbrook Island215 km²
    Bruce Island170 km²
    Payer Island145 km²
    Greely Island143 km²
    Nansen Island134 km²
    Rainer Island128 km²
    Hayes Island103 km²
    Arthur Island101 km²
    Brady Island74.2 km²
    Koetlitz Island67.9 km²
    Leigh Smith Island55.1 km²
    Hofmann Island54.1 km²
    Pritchett Island53.4 km²
    Bromwich Island48.9 km²
    Wilczek Island45.1 km²
    Mabel Island41.6 km²
    Alger Island38.6 km²
    Becker Island37.6 km²
    Freeden Island28.4 km²
    Brice Island26 km²
    Hohenlohe Island25.8 km²
    Kane Island23.5 km²
    South Hochstetter Island22.1 km²
    Kuhn Island18.1 km²
    West Northbrook18.1 km²
    Scott Kelly Island17.8 km²
    Komsomol Islands15.9 km²
    Bliss Island11.6 km²
    Harley Island11.5 km²
    Bell Island10.1 km²
    Newcomb Island8.4 km²
    Lütke Island8.3 km²
    Ugolnoy Kopi Island8.1 km²
    Royal Society Island6.7 km²
    Koldewey Island5.4 km²
    Elizabeth Island4.6 km²
    Berghaus Island4 km²
    Klagenfurt Island2.8 km²
    Wilton Island2.5 km²
    Eaton Island2.2 km²
    Aagaard Island1.8 km²
    Etheridge Islands1.8 km²
    Ommanney Island1.7 km²
    Ostrov Perlamutrovyy1.5 km²
    Stoliczka Island1.3 km²
    Magee Islands1.2 km²
    Tryokhluchevoy Island1 km²
    Chistota Island1 km²
    Windward0.98 km²
    Fersman Island0.95 km²
    Torup Island0.91 km²
    Unnamed island0.83 km²
    Newton Island0.82 km²
    Querini Island0.77 km²
    Adelaide Island0.75 km²
    Jefferson Island0.63 km²
    Lamont Island0.62 km²
    Levanesvsky Island0.58 km²
    McNult Island0.56 km²
    Geddes Island0.55 km²
    Albatros Island0.54 km²
    Unnamed island0.53 km²
    Derevyanny0.44 km²
    Unnamed island0.44 km²
    Gowen Island0.43 km²
    Maly Island0.42 km²
    Kupolok0.31 km²
    Dawes Island0.25 km²
    May Island0.25 km²
    Matilda Island0.24 km²
    Unnamed island0.23 km²
    Unnamed island0.22 km²
    Ostrov Udachnyy0.21 km²
    Unnamed island0.2 km²
    Unnamed island0.19 km²
    Unnamed island0.15 km²
    Ostrov Malyy0.15 km²
    Unnamed island0.15 km²
    Unnamed island0.14 km²
    Zub0.12 km²
    Brosch Island0.12 km²
    Tom Island0.11 km²
    Unnamed island0.1 km²
    Apollonov Island0.1 km²
    Ivanov Island0.09 km²
    Unnamed island0.09 km²
    Unnamed island0.09 km²
    Ostrov Al'batros0.09 km²
    Unnamed island0.08 km²
    Unnamed island0.08 km²
    Unnamed island0.07 km²
    Unnamed island0.07 km²
    David Island0.07 km²
    Unnamed island0.07 km²
    Unnamed island0.06 km²
    Dead Seal Island0.06 km²
    Robertson Island0.06 km²
    Unnamed island0.06 km²
    Unnamed island0.06 km²
    Unnamed island0.05 km²
    Unnamed island0.05 km²
    Unnamed island0.05 km²
    Schönau Island0.05 km²
    Unnamed island0.04 km²
    Nezametny0.04 km²
    Coburg Island0.04 km²
    Dick Island0.04 km²
    Unnamed island0.04 km²
    Tillo0.04 km²
    Unnamed island0.04 km²
    Unnamed island0.04 km²
    Unnamed island0.04 km²
    Solovyov Island0.03 km²
    Unnamed island0.03 km²
    Ostrova Bisernyye0.02 km²
    Unnamed island0.02 km²
    Unnamed island0.02 km²
    Unnamed island0.02 km²
    Unnamed island0.02 km²
    Nerpa0.02 km²
    Unnamed island0.02 km²
    Unnamed island0.02 km²
    Klyk0.02 km²
    Unnamed island0.02 km²
    Unnamed island0.01 km²
    Unnamed island0.01 km²
    Unnamed island0.01 km²
    Unnamed island0.01 km²
    Unnamed island0.01 km²
    Unnamed island1 ha
    Unnamed island1 ha
    Unnamed island0.9 ha
    Unnamed island0.9 ha
    Unnamed island0.7 ha
    Unnamed island0.6 ha
    Unnamed island0.5 ha
    Unnamed island0.5 ha
    Unnamed island0.5 ha
    Unnamed island0.5 ha
    Unnamed island0.4 ha
    Unnamed island0.3 ha
    Unnamed island0.3 ha
    Unnamed island0.3 ha
    Unnamed island0.3 ha
    Unnamed island0.3 ha
    Unnamed island0.2 ha
    Unnamed island0.1 ha
    Unnamed island0.1 ha
    Unnamed island<0.1 ha

    Groups within

    16

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Wikidata
    • Talus
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs