Franz Josef Land

Franz Josef Land is a remote Russian Arctic archipelago in Arkhangelsk Oblast, made up of roughly 190 islands and largely covered by glaciers. The group lies in the Arctic Ocean north of Novaya Zemlya and east of Svalbard and is noted for extreme polar conditions and wildlife such as polar bears and walrus.

Access is limited to expedition vessels and icebreakers, and visits are typically on organised scientific or cruise expeditions during the short Arctic summer. The archipelago’s islands contain steep cliffs, glaciers and pack-ice margins that support seabird colonies and marine mammals.

The islands were discovered in 1873 by the Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition of Julius Payer and Karl Weyprecht and were named for Emperor Franz Joseph I. Cape Fligely on Rudolf Island is often cited as the northernmost point of the Eurasian landmass.

Franz Josef Land sits in the high Arctic seas, administered by Russia, and is part of protected areas established to manage Arctic ecosystems and limited human activity.

• Archipelago size: The archipelago comprises around 190 islands and is largely glaciated, forming a remote high-Arctic environment.
• Discovery: It was discovered in 1873 by the Austro-Hungarian North Pole Expedition led by Julius Payer and Karl Weyprecht and named for Emperor Franz Joseph I.

What to See #

• Rudolf Island / Cape Fligely: The northernmost island of the group and site of Cape Fligely, often cited as the northernmost point of Eurasia.
• Alexandra Land: One of the western islands that hosts historical expedition sites and a seabird and polar mammal habitat.