Belaya Zemlya
Encyclopedia
Belaya Zemlya is a group of three cold, glaciated islands. It is a geographical subgroup of Franz Josef Land
, Russian Federation.
Belaya Zemlya is separated from the main Franz Josef group by a 45 km (28 mi) broad strait known as Proliv Severo Vostochnyy.
This area was named Hvidtenland (Norwegian: "White Land") by Fridtjof Nansen
, who reached this desolate place on August 5 1895 during his polar expedition. In his map he drew four islands. Since the limit of permanent ice
crosses Belaya Zemlya, it is often difficult to distinguish between land and sea. However, as the cartography of the Franz Josef Archipelago became more accurate, it became apparent that it was a group of three islands:
Belaya Zemlya is the point of the Franz Josef Archipelago that Valerian Albanov
was trying to reach when he left the Svyataya Anna
with part of the crew, but owing to the polar ice drift
and the abundance of polynias along his route, he ended up far to the southwest in Alexandra Land
.
Franz Josef Land
Franz Josef Land, Franz Joseph Land, or Francis Joseph's Land is an archipelago located in the far north of Russia. It is found in the Arctic Ocean north of Novaya Zemlya and east of Svalbard, and is administered by Arkhangelsk Oblast. Franz Josef Land consists of 191 ice-covered islands with a...
, Russian Federation.
Belaya Zemlya is separated from the main Franz Josef group by a 45 km (28 mi) broad strait known as Proliv Severo Vostochnyy.
This area was named Hvidtenland (Norwegian: "White Land") by Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Nansen
Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen was a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. In his youth a champion skier and ice skater, he led the team that made the first crossing of the Greenland interior in 1888, and won international fame after reaching a...
, who reached this desolate place on August 5 1895 during his polar expedition. In his map he drew four islands. Since the limit of permanent ice
Fast ice
Fast ice is sea ice that has frozen along coasts along the shoals, or to the sea floor over shallow parts of the continental shelf, and extends out from land into sea. In Antarctica, fast ice may also extend between grounded icebergs...
crosses Belaya Zemlya, it is often difficult to distinguish between land and sea. However, as the cartography of the Franz Josef Archipelago became more accurate, it became apparent that it was a group of three islands:
- Eva IslandEva IslandEva Island or Eva-Liv Island is the northeasternmost island in Franz Josef Land, Russian Arctic.Eva Island is roughly rabbit-shaped and its surface is . The highest point of the island is ....
(Остров Ева-Лив), or "Eva-Liv Island". With 25 km (15.5 mi) in length, this is the largest island of the group. Eva IslandEva IslandEva Island or Eva-Liv Island is the northeasternmost island in Franz Josef Land, Russian Arctic.Eva Island is roughly rabbit-shaped and its surface is . The highest point of the island is ....
was named after Fridtjof's wife Eva Nansen (died in 1907).
- Adelaide IslandAdelaide Island (Russia)Adelaide Island is an island located in Franz Josef Land, Russian Federation. Located on the north-east of the archipelago. The highest point of the island is .Belaya Zemlya includes Adelaide Island.Yeva-Liv Island lies to the northeast....
(Остров Аделаиды). Only 2 km (1.2 mi) in length, this is a very small island. It is located 5 km (3.1 mi) to the southwest of Eva Island's western end. Adelaide Island was named in honor of Princess Adelheid of Hohenlohe-LangenburgPrincess Adelheid of Hohenlohe-LangenburgPrincess Adelheid of Hohenlohe-Langenburg was a niece of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. She was the second daughter of Ernst I, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and Princess Feodora of Leiningen, older half-sister of the British queen...
.
- Frieden Island (Остров Фреден), sometimes also spelt "Fryeden" because of the transliterationTransliterationTransliteration is a subset of the science of hermeneutics. It is a form of translation, and is the practice of converting a text from one script into another...
from the Russian. This is a larger oval-shaped island, with a length of 8.2 km (5.1 mi). It lies 2.5 km (1.6 mi) south of Adelaide Island. Frieden Island is named after the German word for "Peace".
Belaya Zemlya is the point of the Franz Josef Archipelago that Valerian Albanov
Valerian Albanov
Valerian Ivanovich Albanov was a Russian navigator, best known for being one of only two survivors of the ill-fated Brusilov expedition of 1912.-Biography:...
was trying to reach when he left the Svyataya Anna
Svyataya Anna
The ship Svyataya Anna , named after Saint Anne, was the Philomel-class gunvessel HMS Newport launched in England in 1867. She was sold in 1881 and renamed Pandora II. She was purchased again in about 1890 and renamed Blencathra, taking part in expeditions to the north coast of Russia...
with part of the crew, but owing to the polar ice drift
Drift ice
Drift ice is ice that floats on the surface of the water in cold regions, as opposed to fast ice, which is attached to a shore. Usually drift ice is carried along by winds and sea currents, hence its name, "drift ice"....
and the abundance of polynias along his route, he ended up far to the southwest in Alexandra Land
Alexandra Land
Alexandra Land is a large island located in Franz Josef Land, Russian Federation. Not counting detached and far-lying Victoria Island, it is the westernmost island of the Franz Josef Archipelago.The highest point of the island is...
.
External links
- Fridtjof Nansen's early map
- Islands
- Eva Nansen
- :ru:%D0%A1%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BA %D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B2 %D0%A0%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D0%B8 Names in Russian