Bely Island
Island Arctic island in Kara Sea with polar wildlife
In the Kara Sea off Siberia, Bely Island lies in Yamalo-Nenets territory with Arctic tundra, permafrost and sea-ice conditions; access is limited to scientific expeditions and seasonal voyages.
Bely Island is an uninhabited Arctic island in the Kara Sea within the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug of Russia. It lies off the north Siberian coast and is part of the Arctic archipelagic and coastal island zone.
The island is characterized by tundra landscapes and permafrost and is subject to Arctic sea-ice conditions for much of the year. It is not a regular tourist destination and is primarily of interest for scientific, geographic and environmental study.
Historically, islands in this sector of the Kara Sea have been used intermittently for meteorological and polar research activities, and for occasional coastal navigation support. Bely Island itself has no permanent civilian settlements.
Geographically, the island sits in the Kara Sea north of the Yamal and Gydan peninsulas within Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, in the Russian Arctic.
How to Get to Bely Island #
Access is only by sea or helicopter from the Yamal mainland (Salekhard/Beloyarsky region) or from Murmansk in some research arrangements. Chartered expedition vessels operate in June-August when sea ice retreats; helicopter charters are possible from regional bases but subject to strict weather and permitting requirements.
Tips for Visiting Bely Island #
- Travel with a licensed Arctic guide and an experienced pilot if accessing by helicopter - weather changes fast and there are no services on the island.
- Bring bear-deterrent measures and be vigilant: polar bears and Arctic foxes are present; do not leave food exposed.
- Plan for limited daylight in winter - most visitors arrive in summer (mid‑June to August) when sea ice breaks up.
Best Time to Visit Bely Island #
Best visited in the short Arctic summer when sea ice loosens enough for boats or helicopters; winter visits are impractical for all but scientific expeditions.
Weather & Climate near Bely Island #
Bely Island's climate is classified as Tundra - Tundra climate with cold summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -31°C to 8°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall.
January
January is freezing with highs of -22°C and lows of -30°C. Light rainfall.
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February
February is the coldest month with highs of -23°C and lows of -31°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is freezing with highs of -18°C and lows of -26°C. The driest month with just 13 mm and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is freezing with highs of -14°C and lows of -23°C. The driest month with just 13 mm and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is freezing with highs of -6°C and lows of -14°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is freezing with highs of 1°C and lows of -3°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. The wettest month with 32 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is cold with highs of 4°C and lows of 1°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is freezing with highs of -4°C and lows of -8°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is freezing with highs of -11°C and lows of -18°C. Light rainfall and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is freezing with highs of -16°C and lows of -24°C. Light rainfall.
