Hooker Island

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hooker Island (Russian: остров Гукера) is an island located at 80.2294444° N 53.0180556° E. It is a part of the Franz Josef Land, Russia. Tikhaya Bay (Бухта Тихая, 80°20′N 52°47′E) was the site of a major base for polar expeditions, and the location of a meteorological station from 1929 to 1963.

The island was visited by the Graf Zeppelin airship in July 1931 during a landmark aerial survey. Staff were marooned here from 1941 to 1945 during World War II. A graveyard and two modern buildings exist. A large seabird colony exists near Tikhaya Bay at Skala Rubini (Скала Рубини, Rubini Rock, 80°18′N 52°50′E).