Komsomolets Island
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| Native name: остров Комсомолец | |
 Komsomolets Island, Russia |
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
  Komsomolets Island (Russia)
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| Location | Arctic |
| Coordinates | 80°34′N 94°29′E / 80.567°N 94.483°E |
| Archipelago | Severnaya Zemlya |
| Area | 9,006 square kilometres (3,477 sq mi) |
| Country | |
| Russia | |
Komsomolets Island (Russian: остров Комсомолец) is the northernmost island of the Severnaya Zemlya group in the Russian Arctic, and the third largest island in the group. It is the 82nd largest island on earth.
The northernmost point of the island is called the Arctic Cape. This is the launching point for many Arctic expeditions.
The area of this island has been estimated at 9,006 km². It rises to a height of 780 m. Some 65% of island is covered with glaciers. Komsomolets Island is home to the largest ice cap in Russia, the Academy of Sciences Ice Cap. [1].
The soil of the island is mostly composed of loose loam and sands, a tundra desert scattered with mosses and lichens. [2]
The island was first explored and named by the expedition of Georgy Ushakov and Nikolay Urvantsev in 1930 - 32. In keeping with their scheme of naming the islands after events and movements of the Russian Revolution, this island was named in honour of the members of the Komsomol, the "Communist Union of Youth".
There has been a request to rename this island Svyataya Mariya (St. Maria).[3]
[edit] See also
- Photos of the Academy of Science Ice Cap: [1]
- Facts and dramatic satellite photos of the islands of the Severnaya Zemlya group: [2]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.ecoshelf.ru/eng/nauka/exp_4.php Ecoshelf
- ^ http://www.oceandots.com/arctic/severnaya-zemlya Russian Arctic - Severnaya Zemlya
- ^ Search - Krasnoyarsk Territory - Rosnedvizhimost
Coordinates: 80°34′N 94°29′E / 80.567°N 94.483°E
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