Alexandra Land
Encyclopedia
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 382 m (1,253 ft). A sound known as Cambridge Channel (Proliv Kambritch) is located between Alexandra Land and Zemlya Georga
.
This island has two capes pointing southwestwards in its southern coast: Cape Lofley and Cape Ludlow. Another cape pointing westwards is called Cape Mary Harmsworth
, the westernmost point of the Franz Josef Archipelago proper.
in honor of Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia
(1783-1801), who became Archduchess of Austria
upon her marriage to Archduke Joseph of Austria, Palatine of Hungary. Alexandra Land is also home to Nagurskaya military base, Russia's northern most military base.
Russian navigator Valerian Albanov
of the Svyataya Anna
reached Cape Mary Harmsworth in Alexandra Land in 1914 after his long and tragic ordeal on the Polar ice. Cape Mary Harmsworth was named after Alfred Harmsworth' s wife Mary. Alfred Harmsworth, fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
, was the main sponsor of the 1894 Jackson-Harmsworth Polar Expedition
to Franz Josef Land.
The Polar bear
, Ursus maritimus, is found on Alexandra Land. The Polar bear
population in this region, as the case with other Arctic sub-regions, is genetically distinct from other Polar bear sub-populations in differing Arctic sub-regions.
During World War II
the Germans established an ill-fated meteorological station on the island. Most of the members were stricken with trichinosis
after eating raw Polar bear
meat. The survivors were removed and the project abandoned.
Nagurskoye
is a Russian base located on the island at 80°49′N 47°25′E. It was named after pioneer pilot Jan Nagórski
and has served as one of the most important meteorological stations in the archipelago during the Cold War
. This base has a 1500 m (4,921 ft) snow runway. An Antonov An-72 cargo aircraft crashed while landing at Nagurskoye on 23 December 1996.
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
located in Franz Josef 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. Not counting detached and far-lying Victoria Island
Victoria Island (Russian Arctic)
Victoria Island is a small Arctic island situated at 80°9'N 36°46'E, halfway between the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard and the Russian archipelago of Franz Josef Land. This westernmost of all Russian Arctic islands is about 14 km² and almost completely covered with ice...
, it is the westernmost island of the Franz Josef Archipelago.
The highest point of the island is 382 m (1,253 ft). A sound known as Cambridge Channel (Proliv Kambritch) is located between Alexandra Land and Zemlya Georga
Zemlya Georga
Zemlya Georga, or Prince George Land is an island located at . It is a part of Franz Josef Land, Russia....
.
This island has two capes pointing southwestwards in its southern coast: Cape Lofley and Cape Ludlow. Another cape pointing westwards is called Cape Mary Harmsworth
Cape Mary Harmsworth
Cape Mary Harmsworth is a cape located in Alexandra Land .This cape is the westernmost point of the Franz Josef Archipelago proper, not counting far-lying Victoria Island which is geographically detached from the group.Cape Mary Harmsworth was named after Alfred Harmsworth' s wife Mary...
, the westernmost point of the Franz Josef Archipelago proper.
History and ecology
Alexandra Land was named by the Austro-Hungarian North Pole ExpeditionAustro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition
The Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition was an expedition that ran from 1872–74 and discovered Franz-Josef Land. According to Julius von Payer, one of the leaders, the journey was to find the north-eastern passage. It actually explored the area northwest of Novaya Zemlya. According to the...
in honor of Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia
Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia, was a daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia and sister of Emperors Alexander I and Nicholas I. She became Archduchess of Austria upon her marriage to Archduke Joseph of Austria, Governor of Hungary.-Life:...
(1783-1801), who became Archduchess of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
upon her marriage to Archduke Joseph of Austria, Palatine of Hungary. Alexandra Land is also home to Nagurskaya military base, Russia's northern most military base.
Russian navigator 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:...
of 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...
reached Cape Mary Harmsworth in Alexandra Land in 1914 after his long and tragic ordeal on the Polar ice. Cape Mary Harmsworth was named after Alfred Harmsworth' s wife Mary. Alfred Harmsworth, fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
, was the main sponsor of the 1894 Jackson-Harmsworth Polar Expedition
Frederick George Jackson
Frederick George Jackson , British Arctic explorer, was educated at Denstone College and Edinburgh University.-Biography:...
to Franz Josef Land.
The Polar bear
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
, Ursus maritimus, is found on Alexandra Land. The Polar bear
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
population in this region, as the case with other Arctic sub-regions, is genetically distinct from other Polar bear sub-populations in differing Arctic sub-regions.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the Germans established an ill-fated meteorological station on the island. Most of the members were stricken with trichinosis
Trichinosis
Trichinosis, also called trichinellosis, or trichiniasis, is a parasitic disease caused by eating raw or undercooked pork or wild game infected with the larvae of a species of roundworm Trichinella spiralis, commonly called the trichina worm. There are eight Trichinella species; five are...
after eating raw Polar bear
Polar Bear
The polar bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size...
meat. The survivors were removed and the project abandoned.
Nagurskoye
Nagurskoye
Nagurskoye is an airfield in Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia located 1350 km north of Murmansk. It is an extremely remote Arctic base...
is a Russian base located on the island at 80°49′N 47°25′E. It was named after pioneer pilot Jan Nagórski
Jan Nagórski
Jan Nagórski , also known by his Russified name of Ivan Nagurski was a Polish engineer and pioneer of aviation, the first person to fly an airplane in the Arctic and the first aviator to perform a loop with a flying boat....
and has served as one of the most important meteorological stations in the archipelago during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. This base has a 1500 m (4,921 ft) snow runway. An Antonov An-72 cargo aircraft crashed while landing at Nagurskoye on 23 December 1996.