Yuzhny Island

Yuzhny
Native name: Южный
Yuzhny
Yuzhny Island (Russia)
Geography
Location Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia
Coordinates 72°N 54°E / 72°N 54°E / 72; 54Coordinates: 72°N 54°E / 72°N 54°E / 72; 54
Archipelago Novaya Zemlya
Area 33,275 km2 (12,848 sq mi)
Area rank 41st
Administration
Oblast Arkhangelsk Oblast

Yuzhny (Russian: Южный, lit. southern) is the southern island of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, lying north of Russia. It has an area of 33,275 square kilometres (12,800 sq mi), which while smaller than the northern island of Severny, makes it one of the largest islands in the world. It is separated from Severny Island by the narrow Matochkin Strait, which is covered with ice most of the year. West of Yuzhny Island lies the Barents Sea, and to the east the Kara Sea.

Originally home to the Nenets people, the island was largely evacuated in the 1950s to make way for nuclear tests.[1]

Ecology

Yuzhny Island is known for its large seabird population. The island's vegetation is largely composed of tundra.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Nuclear Explosions in the USSR: The North Test Site Reference Material" (PDF). The Division of Nuclear Safety and Security: International Atomic Energy Agency. December 2004. Retrieved March 14, 2012.


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