Franz Josef Land. Franz Josef Land is an island. Franz Josef Land Tours

The land of Franz Josef, whose islands (and a total of 192) have a total area of 16,134 square kilometers. Km, is located in the Arctic Ocean. The bulk of the Arctic territory is part of the Primorsky district of the Arkhangelsk region. Geographically, it is divided into 3 large parts: eastern, central and western. The first includes the islands of Wilczek Land (2,000 sq. Km.) And Graham-Bell (1,700 sq. Km). They are separated from the rest by the Austrian Straits. The largest group of islands is located in the central part. It is washed by the British Channel and the Austrian Straits. The western region includes the largest island of the alliance - George Land with an area of 2.9 thousand square meters. Km. The land of Franz Josef for the most part has a flat, plateau-like surface. Its average height reaches 400-490 m, and the highest point is 620 m.

Detection

The existence of a group of islands east of Spitsbergen was foretold not by one great Russian scientist: first Lomonosov, followed by Shilling and Kropotkin. And the latter in 1871 presented to the Russian Geographical Society his plan of the expedition for their research, but the government refused to allocate funds. The Franz Josef Land archipelago was discovered only by chance. This happened when the Austro-Hungarian expedition, under the leadership of J. Payer and K. Weiprecht, set off in 1872 to develop the Northeast Passage. However, their ship was caught in ice, and gradually it was on the west of Novaya Zemlya. In 1873, on August 30, the schooner Admiral Tegetgoff moored to the shores of an unknown land. At the same time, Payer and Weiprecht examined her northern and southern outskirts. Before that, where the Franz Josef Land is located, nobody knew. In April 1874, Payer managed to reach a point with a coordinate of 82 ° 5 'north latitude. He also compiled a preliminary diagram of the archipelago found. At that time, the researchers thought that it consisted of a number of large areas. The open land was named after the famous Franz Josef I, the Austrian emperor.

Mastering

In 1873, Payer and Weiprecht investigated the southern part of the territory, and in the spring of 1874 they crossed it across from the south to the north on sledge sledges. At the same time, Franz Josef Land was first depicted schematically. The map, as it turned out later, had many errors. In the years 1881-1882. The open territory on the yacht "Eyra" was visited by the Scotsman BL Smith. And in 1895-1897 years. The English geographer Frederick Jackson carried out many important surveys of the south-western, middle and southern parts of the alliance. Subsequently it turned out that the group consists of a much larger number of islands than expected. However, they were less significant in size than the notation on the Payer map.

Approximately in the same period of time the north-eastern and middle parts of the archipelago were visited by Nansen and Johansen. In June 1896, the Norwegian Nansen accidentally discovered on. Northbrook wintering Frederick Jackson. In the summer of 1901 the south-western and southern shores of the islands were visited and conducted by their inspection Vice Admiral SO Makarov. During the work, the approximate size of the entire territory was established. Then in the years 1901-1902. Research work continued to lead American scientists Baldwin and Ziegler. Following them from 1903 to 1905. A new expedition was organized to reach the ice pole. She was led by Ziegler and Fial. In the period from 1913 to 1914 in the Bay of Tikhaya near the island of Hooker, the work of a group of geographers G. Ya. Sedov. In the summer of 1914 the last surviving members of the expedition Brusilov - Albanov and Konrad - managed to reach the old base of Jackson-Harmsworth. It was located on Cape Flora o. Northbrook. There, geographers were rescued by the descending schooner "Saint Fock".

Accession to Russia and further development

In 1914, in search of a group of G. Ya. Sedov, the island was visited by an expedition led by Islyamov. He also declared the area part of the territory of Russia and raised the flag. In 1929, in the Tikhaya Bay, Fr. The first scientific research station was opened by Soviet scientists. Thanks to her, Franz Josef Land has since then begun to host Soviet polar expeditions every year. In the 50's. Twentieth century, the units of radio technical air defense forces were reorganized. One of them took Franz Josef Land. The military base was on about. Graham Bell. Here are located the 30th separate radar company and a separate aviation manual. The latter served the icefield. But these are not all the strategic objects that the Franz Josef Land possessed. The island of Alexandra received the 31st separate radar company "Nugarskaya". These units belonged to the northernmost military units of the Soviet Union. In the early 90's. They were liquidated. In 2008, in the course of research on an atomic icebreaker called "Yamal", a detachment from Fr. Northbrook is part of the land. In honor of the Arctic captain she was named after Yuri Kuchiev. September 10, 2012 by the AARI expedition to the nuclear icebreaker "Russia" was opened one more separated part from. Northbrook.

Population

On Franz Josef Land, there are no municipalities and permanent residents. The temporary composition of the population includes the FSB border guards, staff of research stations. Periodically, servicemen of the air defense unit also live here. They are carrying out anti-missile defense of the northern direction of Russia. According to press reports, in 2005 the most extreme post office of Archangel 163,100 was opened on the territory of the island of Hayes. The time of his work should be only 1 hour, from 10 to 11 hours from Tuesday to Friday. According to the data for September 2013, under the index 163100 there is a post office "Arkhangelsk" (Hayes Island, Franz Josef Land). His schedule of work - from 10 to 11 hours every Wednesday.

Glaciers

They covered most of the surface of the archipelago (87%). The power varies from 100 to 500 m. Icebergs are formed from the glaciers descending into the sea. The eastern and south-eastern parts of the whole territory are subject to a greater degree of icing. New formations appear only on the very tops of glacial shields. At the same time, according to the results of the research, the cover of Franz Josef Land is very rapidly shrinking. If the observed rate of its destruction remains the same, the glaciation of the territory after 300 years can disappear forever.

Franz Josef Land. Is it hot, cold?

The group of islands is covered by a typically arctic climate. Average annual temperature on the island. Rudolph reaches -12 ° C. In July, in the bay of the Pacific island of Hooker, the air warms up to -1.2 ° C, and on the Hayes Island, where the Observatory is located. Krenkel (the most northern meteorological station in the world), - up to + 1.6 ° C. The average temperature in January is about -24 ° C, and the lowest temperature reaches -52 ° C. The maximum gusts of the wind are 40 m / s. In the zone of the accumulation of glacial shields, an average of 250 to 550 mm of precipitation falls annually.

Flora and fauna of the Arctic

Mosses and lichens prevail in the vegetation cover of the archipelago. There are also grains, polar willow, saxifrage and polar poppy. Among mammals you can see a polar bear. Less often comes the white arctic fox. In coastal waters there are walrus, harp seal, beluga, narwhal, sea hare and seal. Richer in the fauna of the bird archipelago - there are only 26 species of winged. Among them are cleaners, common kittiwakes, guillemots, white gull, lyuriki, burgomaster, etc. In summer they form bird markets.

Tourist trips to the North Pole

How much does a cruise to the Franz Josef Land Archipelago cost? Tours to the Arctic can be purchased at a cost of 875,076 rubles. ($ 24,995). Yes, very expensive! The permit may include a trip with the expedition team to the "Franz Josef Land" reserve. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most unusual and luxury leisure options. The excursion program offers its guests to reach the "Summit of the World" - 90 degrees c. W. On board the world's most powerful nuclear icebreaker "50 Years of Victory". The conquest of the icy expanses ends with a polar barbecue on the icy cover, a merry "round-the-world" round dance and bathing in the Arctic Ocean. On the way back, the travelers will be offered helicopter excursions to the islands of the archipelago, an incredible panorama of which will surely conquer its beauty. In 540 miles to the North Pole there is a habitat of a huge number of seals, Arctic birds, walruses and polar bears. In the case of planning such a tourist trip, one should take into account the fact that the journey takes place in a remote, inaccessible and remote part of the globe. As a consequence, the route of the program can only be considered as a general, familiarization plan for the expedition, because under the influence of external factors such as ice conditions, weather, etc., it can change. As the ten-year practice shows, no expeditionary tour to the Arctic is exactly the same as the previous one. The nature of the North Pole makes its own adjustments. This is the peculiarity and specificity of expedition cruises.

General plan of travel

Day 1

Arrival in Murmansk, landing on the icebreaker. At the pier in anticipation of when a group of travelers will board aboard, there is the world's most powerful nuclear icebreaker with the lyric title "50 Years of Victory". After some time the ship will leave the Big Land and go to meet new impressions, passing by the Kola Bay.

Day 2

In the Barents Sea. An integral part of each expedition is the preparation of passengers for the peculiarities of an unusual journey. Members of the organizational team will familiarize the holidaymakers with the safety rules on board the ship and helicopter, as well as tell about all the nuances associated with the implementation of the landing on the shore in the Arctic.

Day 3-5

Direct course to the Arctic. Three subsequent busy days spent on the ship will introduce passengers to interesting historical facts and the amazing nature of this land.

Day 6

Arrival to the North Pole. At the approach to the destination, the captain will take the icebreaker to the coveted coordinate - 90 ° north latitude by slow, precise maneuvers. After stopping the vessel, vacationers will descend to a suitable ice floe and hold a traditional ritual of "round-the-world procession". Then follows another interesting ritual - travelers will be asked to write notes, which are then placed in metal capsules and immersed in the abyss of the Arctic Ocean.

Day 7-9

The destination is Franz Josef Land. Despite the fact that the main task of the expedition has already been accomplished, travelers will still expect many interesting, impressive events. Well-preserved buildings make it possible to trace the most important historical events that took place on the archipelago many years ago. Among them is worth noting the small house on about. Bell, built in 1881 by members of the expedition of Lee Smith, and the ruins of the old camp on about. Northbrook. It was there that in 1896 there was a landmark meeting between Nansen and Jackson. Also worth visiting is Cape Norway, where for a long 7 months the joint research work was conducted by Nansen F. and Johansen; Honor the memory of the scientist G. Ya. Sedov, whose image became the prototype of the main character when creating the novel "Two Captains" by Kaverin. The pristine expanses of the Arctic and the originality of the landscapes are presented to the guests by Franz Josef Land. Photos made in this area are invariably striking with their uniqueness and beauty. Glaciers resembling lunar craters, combined with colorful moss carpets and brightly colored poppies create an amazing, indescribable atmosphere of harmony. An obligatory component of the Arctic landscape is also the many thousands of bird markets and walrus rookeries that fill the coastal horizon of the Franz Josef Land archipelago. Photo in the bosom of the polar nature will capture a unique moment in life and keep it in your memory for many years.

Day 10-11

In the Barents Sea. It's time to return to Murmansk. On the way back, the captain will invite travelers to dinner in their apartments. There, passengers can relax in an interesting company and listen to entertaining real stories about the service on the icebreaker from the source.

What is included in the total cost of the tour

• Journey aboard the icebreaker "50 Years of Victory".
• Scheduled group excursions. They include all shore trips, visits to places of historical significance and other events on helicopters.
• Excursions on the zodiacs (by decision of the expedition leader in connection with the deterioration of weather conditions can be canceled).
• A program of lectures prepared by well-known naturalists and specialists of the region.
• Four meals a day (including fresh pastries for a mid-morning snack); Coffee and snacks throughout the day; drinking water.
• Rubber boots for rent during the cruise.
• Information materials for review and expeditionary diary with photos on DVD.
• Post fees and technical costs.
• Special jacket for the expedition.
• Medical insurance against accidents on board.