FRANZ JOSEF LAND


Meaning of FRANZ JOSEF LAND in English

Russian Zemlya Frantsa-Iosifa

Archipelago, northeastern Barents Sea .

Consisting of about 190 islands, it is the northernmost territory of Russia and the most northerly land of the Eastern Hemisphere. With a land area of about 6,229 sq mi (16,134 sq km), the islands comprise a series of lowland plateaus, 85% of which is ice-covered. The Arctic climate supports polar bears and the Arctic fox, with numerous bird species. The Soviet Union annexed the islands in 1926 and maintained permanent weather stations there.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.