Bely IslandBely Island at a Glance
About Bely Island
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.
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.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | -30° - -22° | -38° | 16 mm | - | 98% | 5.1 m/s | 0.0 low | 0.0h |
| February | Poor | -31° - -23° | -38° | 14 mm | partly cloudy | 98% | 5.2 m/s | 0.0 low | 4.8h |
| March | Poor | -27° - -18° | -33° | 13 mm | partly cloudy | 97% | 5.4 m/s | 0.1 low | 11.2h |
| April | Poor | -23° - -14° | -29° | 13 mm | partly cloudy | 95% | 5.5 m/s | 0.4 low | 17.0h |
| May | Poor | -14° - -6° | -18° | 15 mm | overcast | 93% | 5.6 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 23.6h |
| June | Poor | -3° - 1° | -6° | 18 mm | overcast | 94% | 5.3 m/s | 1.0 high | 24.0h |
| July | Acceptable | 2° - 7° | 1° | 18 mm | overcast | 93% | 5.0 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 24.0h |
| August | Poor | 3° - 8° | 2° | 32 mm | overcast | 91% | 5.2 m/s | 0.4 low | 19.9h |
| September | Poor | 1° - 5° | -2° | 28 mm | overcast | 89% | 5.4 m/s | 0.1 low | 13.3h |
| October | Poor | -8° - -4° | -13° | 20 mm | overcast | 88% | 5.7 m/s | 0.0 low | 7.6h |
| November | Poor | -18° - -11° | -24° | 19 mm | overcast | 95% | 5.4 m/s | 0.0 low | 0.7h |
| December | - | -24° - -16° | -30° | 18 mm | - | 97% | 5.4 m/s | 0.0 low | 0.0h |
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.