Northwest Russia and Franz Joseph Land

Closed during the Cold War, these rugged glacial islands can now be explored

Information about Northwest Russia and Franz Joseph Land

The remote Arctic archipelago of Franz Joseph Land has only been available for exploration since the 1990s. Following the Second World War, the Soviet Union placed great importance on Franz Joseph Land as a military asset, treating it as "an unsinkable aircraft carrier" in the Arctic ocean.

Swathed in secrecy, and only accessible to military personnel, the archipelago remained a mystery until only 30 years ago. Now, Arctic expedition cruises can visit this remote land of glaciers and rugged hills that lies only 550 miles from the North Pole.

While still home to a fully-operational and quite active military base (Russia's northernmost), the archipelago is also a haven for wildlife and is a designated marine mammal sanctuary. Species readily encountered here include harp seals, walrus, and bearded seals. A particular highlight is the critically endangered bowhead whale, for which Franz Joseph Land is an important habitat. If you are lucky, you may also see a Narwhal, that is scarce in Svalbard. In contrast, there are no reindeer here. As with Svalbard, Franz Joseph land is a good place to look for Polar Bears.

Most of the cruise ships that head up to the North Pole pass through Franz Joseph Land.

Interesting facts about Northwest Russia and Franz Joseph Land

Our expert guide says: 'The geography of Franz Joseph Land is stunning, with over 80& of the landmass being covered in glaciers. Reaching the archipelago is can be a challenge and the ice conditions in remoter parts of the archipelago can restrict most vessels except nuclear-powered ice breakers. If you do make it, then a sighting of the endangered bowhead whale will have made the effort worth it.'Our expert guide says: 'Franz Joseph Land is a great place to spot the elusive bowhead whale. Another fantastic wildlife encounter could be with the "unicorn of the sea", the remarkable narwhal, the toothed whale with the iconic tusk.'

Pictures of Northwest Russia and Franz Joseph Land

Highlights in Northwest Russia and Franz Joseph Land

Apollonov & Stolichkiy Islands

Small islands in Austria Sound, known for the large herds of Walruses. You will most likely smell them before you see them!

North Pole

The only way to get into the consolidated pack ice is with the icebreakers, and the Russian icebreakers have been sued for expeditions to the North Poke that usually go from Murmansk to the pole via Franz Joseph Land.

Hall Island

The popular site to visit here is Cape Tegetthoff, named after the ship used in the Austro-Hungarian North Pole expedition to find the North-East Passage from 1872 to 1874, partially exploring Franz Josef Land. There are interesting geological pinnacles, tundra, wildlife, and remains of the hut used by Wellman to winter in 1898 before his failed attempt to get to the North Pole.

Wilczek Island

The Admiral Tegetthoof, caught in the ice off Novaya Zemlya in 1872 came to a halt off this tiny island for the winter of 1873-74. They explored the area and there is the grave of Otto Krisch, the one expedition team member that died.

One of the largest islands on the SE side of the archipelago. Mapped by Payer in 1874 and visited by the Wellman expedition in 1898-99. It was the overwintering site of Bentsen and Bjorvik on the Wellman expedition, attempting to set up an advanced cache for Wellman’s attempt (he overwintered at Cape Tegetthoff) on the North Pole. Bentsen died here and the grave can be seen and the remains of the cabin.

Rudolf Island

The most northerly island in Franz Joseph Land, and in the whole of Eurasia - Cape Fligely, 911km/566mi from the North Pole, at 81o 52’N. Various expeditions came here, some over winter, with at least two explorers buried here - Sigurd Myhre (1904?) and Georgiy Sedov (1914). A meteorological station was setup in 1932 and as a Soviet airbase in the high Arctic. Now there are decaying buildings covered in snow.

Cape Flora, Franz Josef Land/Russian Arctic National Park

Northbrook Island

One of the most southerly islands, in the SW. A number of expeditions visited Cape Flora between 1880 and 1929, some setting up bases and winter quarters, including the Jackson-Harmsworth expedition of 1894-97. There are still artifacts and remains visible. Cape Barents, was also visited by several expeditions.

Cape Flora is also famous for where, on 17th June 1896, Jackson spotted two men heading towards his base, and asked – “Are You Nansen?”!

Cheysa Island

Krenkel station, a Soviet rocket-launching site was established here in the 1957-58 Geophysical Year, becoming the largest in the archipelago. It closed in the year 2000, with decaying buildings, wreckage, remains of rocket debris, and leaking fuel tanks. A small base was re-stablished in 2005, with plans to revive the site.

QuarkExpeditions_Jewels of the Russian Arctic

Alger Island

Camp Ziegler on Alger Island was one of the camps used by the Fiala-Ziegler Polar Expedition of 1903-1905. This expedition failed in its ultimate goal to reach the North Pole. The expedition crew sought refuge at Camp Ziegler after repeated unfavorable events caused their mission to halt, mostly from extreme weather. Today the huts are in ruins, but one of the best preserved in the area.

Victoria Island

The most westerly of the group, and, like Kvitoya on Svalbard to the west, it is covered by an ice dome. Visited by expedition cruise ships sailing between the two archipelagos. There are two small ice free (almost gravel) areas to land on the wets and north sides – with a decaying weather station at the latter.

Jackson Island

One of the north islands in Franz Joseph land. Jackson landed at Cape Mill in 1895, and Nansen and Johansen overwintered (1895-96) at Cape Norway after attempting to get to the North Pole after leaving the Fram. But they did not encounter Jackson until summer 1896.

Champ Island

Mainly glaciated, in the ice-free area on the south coast there is geological interest with spheres of rocks, natural, but some resembling cannonballs.

Ice edge and pack ice

Option to explore the pack ice edge and rafts of pack ice within the archipelago for wildlife, highlights including Polar Bears, Bowhead Whales, and even Narwhal.

Hvidtenland

This remote island is the most North-easterly island in Franz Joseph Land. The smaller Eva-Liv Island was the first land Nansen discovered after drifting in the ice for two years across the Arctic Ocean on the Fram.

QuarkExpeditions_ Three Arctic Islands Northbound

Hooker Island

This base was set up in 1927 and was the main research base on the islands before Krenkal station opened in 1957. Rusbini Rock on the island is an important seabird colony.