When did Russia officially claim the Russian Arctic islands?
Russia formally claimed its Arctic islands in a Note of the Russian Government dated the 20th of September 1916. The Soviet Union reaffirmed the same claim on the 15th of April 1926.
Questions about Russian Arctic islands
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Which islands were named in Russia's 1916 Arctic claim?
The 1916 Note specifically named Henrietta, Jeannette, Bennett, Herald, Edinenie, New Siberia, Wrangel, Novaya Zemlya, Kolguev, Vaigach, and others.
What is the largest Russian Arctic island?
Severny Island is the largest Russian Arctic island, with an area of about 48,904 square kilometers. It is Russia's second largest island overall, after Sakhalin Island, and the fourth largest island in Europe.
How far do the Russian Arctic islands extend from west to east?
The Russian Arctic islands extend approximately 7,000 kilometers from west to east, from Karelia in the west to the Chukchi Peninsula in the east.
Which seas do the Russian Arctic islands sit in?
The Russian Arctic islands are scattered through the Barents Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea, Chukchi Sea, and Bering Sea. All of the islands lie within the Arctic Circle.
What is the total area of Novaya Zemlya?
Novaya Zemlya covers about 90,605 square kilometers in total, divided between Severny Island in the north at roughly 48,904 square kilometers and Yuzhny Island in the south at about 33,275 square kilometers.