Bolshevik Island: A frozen, mountainous expanse in the heart of the Russian Arctic

Countries & Cities · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Located in the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago, Bolshevik Island is a rugged, ice-covered territory named after the Soviet political faction. Spanning over 11,000 square kilometers, this remote landmass remains one of the most inhospitable places on Earth, defined by its extreme cold, deep fjords, and vast, sprawling glaciers.

Discovered by Boris Vilkitsky during the 1913 Arctic Ocean Hydrographic Expedition, the island was initially associated with the eastern coast of what was then called Emperor Nicholas II Land. It was not until the 1930–32 expedition led by Georgy Ushakov and Nikolay Urvantsev that its true insularity was confirmed. As the southernmost and second-largest island in the Severnaya Zemlya group, it serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities of the Russian Arctic.

The geography of the island is dominated by dramatic, mountainous terrain that reaches elevations of 935 meters. Approximately 31% of the landmass, totaling more than 3,300 square kilometers, is blanketed by glaciers. Notable ice formations include the Leningrad, Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky, Kropotkin, Mushketov, and Aerosyomki glaciers. Unlike many coastal ice sheets, most of these glaciers terminate in inland valleys or coastal plains rather than the sea, leaving behind moraines and sparse patches of moss and lichen.

The island's coastline is deeply indented, featuring significant fjords such as Akhmatov, Thaelmann, Spartak, and Partizan. The climate is unforgiving, with an annual average temperature of −16 °C. Despite these conditions, the island maintains a human presence; the Prima Polar Station, situated near Cape Baranov, is currently the only operational polar station in the entire Severnaya Zemlya archipelago. The island also hosts an air base, further marking its role as a strategic, albeit desolate, outpost in the high north.

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