Russia Discovers Nine Arctic Islands

In the course of the Arctic expedition, researchers from the Russian Navy’s Northern Fleet made over 20 geographic discoveries, including the discovery of nine new islands.

On board the hydrographic ship, Senezh, the researchers explored the western part of Severny Island as well as the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in the Barents Sea. 

Novaya Zemlya consists of two major islands, separated by the narrow Matochkin Strait, and a number of smaller islands. The two main islands are Severny (Northern) and Yuzhny (Southern). Novaya Zemlya separates the Barents Sea from the Kara Sea. The total area is about 90,650 square kilometers (35,000 square miles).

The territory has become accessible for research because of deglaciation.

The team discovered six islands, three small islands, as well as seven capes and four straits, which had not been marked on maps.

The discoveries will be confirmed after camera data processing.