Np Russian Arctic. Russian Arctic National Park

Russian Arctic National Park

Since ancient times, the Arctic has been a mystery and, despite its sometimes deadly danger, has always attracted people. Someone in the northern latitudes was attracted by a passion for geographical discoveries, for someone - rich opportunities for fishing for fish and sea animals, someone just wanted to become famous, and someone - to demonstrate their heroism and perseverance.

It has been established that as early as the XI-XII centuries, Novgorodians traveled to Novaya Zemlya - a group of islands located between the Barents and Kara Seas. In 1596, Willem Barentsz circled the northern tip of the Severny Island and wintered on its eastern coast. And in our time, on June 15, 2009, the Russian Arctic National Park was created here.

The territory of the national park includes northern part islands north islands New earth, Big and Small Oran Islands, about. Loshkina, about. Gemskerk and a number of other islands. The land area of the "Russian Arctic" is 632,090 hectares, the water area - 793,910 hectares.

The national park is located on the territory of the Arkhangelsk region (the municipal formation of the urban district "Novaya Zemlya"). There is no permanently residing population in the "Russian Arctic".

The unique location of the national park, which spreads its vastness on the Eurasian border, determines a number of its features. The Barents Sea, washing the territory of the park from the west, does not completely freeze under the influence of the warm North Atlantic Current. The eastern Kara Sea, on the other hand, is covered by solid ice for months. The relatively small distance from the mainland and higher winter temperatures lead to a greater variety of life forms than in other Arctic territories.

On the territory of the "Russian Arctic" there are polar bears, walruses, seals, harp seals, arctic foxes and even reindeer. In a short server summer, plants of 64 species turn their leaves to the polar sun. The Orange Islands, with their gentle cliffs, are a true paradise for many polar birds. Here, up to 20 species of birds breed their offspring, and 5 species dare to stay for the winter.

The Lomonosov Mountains and Mendeleev Mountains belong to the group of characteristic and especially memorable objects of the "Russian Arctic". There are amazingly beautiful polar landscapes here.

Those who have visited the "Russian Arctic" gained more than just good impressions. They felt like pioneers and undoubtedly received answers to their eternal questions. After all, where else can you find these answers - only among the age-old ice.

State nature reserve of federal significance "Franz Josef Land"

April 23, 1994 is considered to be the birthday of the reserve, then the reserve status of the Franz Josef Land archipelago and part of the sea area was approved by the order of the Russian Government. The entire territory of the archipelago - 1,635,300 hectares - is allocated by this document for the land part of the reserve. The total area of the specially protected natural area is 4,200,000 hectares.

The Franz Josef Land Archipelago is located in the northeastern part of the Barents Sea and is the northernmost land area in Eurasia. On an administrative-territorial basis, it is part of the Primorsky municipal district Arkhangelsk region.

The existence of these lands was predicted by the great Pomor M.V. Lomonosov, however, due to their remoteness (the distance to the North Pole is 900 km, the Kola Peninsula is 1200 km, Novaya Zemlya is 360 km) and the inaccessibility of the archipelago was discovered only in 1873 by the expedition of K. Weiprecht and J. Payer. It was named in honor of the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph I. In the 20th century, man left a noticeable mark on the archipelago: fuel barrels, used technology - not the most attractive, but no less noticeable features of Franz Josef Land.

Geographically, Franz Josef Land is a group of 191 islands, 375 km long from west to east, and 234 km from south to north. Continuous relief-forming processes can lead to a change in the number of islands. So, in 2008, a new island was discovered near the island of Northbrook, named after the Arctic captain Yuri Kuchiev.

It is interesting to note that 71% of the total number of islands in the archipelago occupy only 0.4% of its area. Only 4 islands (Georg Land, Wilczek Land, Graham Bell, Alexandra Land) have an area exceeding 100,000 hectares.

85% of the Franz Josef Land area is covered with glaciers; this is the most glacial land area in the Russian Arctic.

All islands of the archipelago belong to climatic zone arctic deserts. The average January temperature is -24 ° С, in July - from -1.5-0 ° С. In winter, the thermometer can drop below -50 ° C.

Despite the truly harsh climate, the archipelago is not a lifeless space. Its nature is unique and charming in its own way. Among the few other places, these islands are chosen by the owners of the Arctic - polar bears - for the birth and education of their babies. Walruses, ringed seals, bearded seals are amazing species of mammals that have chosen Franz Josef Land and the waters around it as their home. In the sea, near the reserve, you can meet bowhead whale, sea unicorn - narwhal, beluga whale. On the numerous rocks of the archipelago, 15 species of birds hatch chicks.

Functions of protection of the reserve "Franz Josef Land", organization of work to restore its original appearance and preserve cultural heritage"Is currently carried out by the Federal State Budgetary Institution" National Park "Russian Arctic".

Franz Josef Land and the adjacent water area play an exceptional role in ensuring the reproduction and sustainable existence of many populations of Arctic species.

First, Franz Josef Land is the most important from the environmental point of view of the western sector of the Arctic, it is home to five species listed in the Red Book Russian Federation and the International Red Book.

The archipelago is home to a significant part of the Russian and world populations of the ivory gull, a rare indigenous arctic species; the largest colonies of this gull in the Barents Sea are known on the islands.

The water area of Franz Josef Land is a key area of the modern range of the Svalbard population of the bowhead whale, the rarest marine mammal in the North Atlantic. Franz Josef Land is the most frequent meetings whales and their year-round habitat. Thanks to the animals preserved here, the Svalbard population began to slowly restore its numbers and range.

The water area of Franz Josef Land is the place of the most regular meetings of narwhals in the Russian Arctic.

Franz Josef Land is the most important area for the maintenance and reproduction of the Atlantic walrus, which, thanks to the presence of stationary polynyas, inhabits the archipelago all year round. A significant part of the East Atlantic subpopulation of the subspecies is concentrated here. As in the case of the polar bear, the north of the Barents Sea is inhabited by a single population of walruses, and thanks to the expanded reproduction of the group of walruses that have survived on Franz Josef Land, in recent decades, the population has been recovering and the animals are recolonizing the Spitsbergen Islands.

The islands are an important breeding ground for the polar bear of the Kara-Barents Sea population. In the summertime, there is an increased density of the polar bear population compared to neighboring areas.

Secondly, the archipelago plays an important role in the conservation and maintenance of the ornithological diversity of the Russian Arctic.

Most of the Russian breeding population of the Atlantic fulmar subspecies and the polar Lyurik subspecies are concentrated here.

Franz Josef Land is home to the world's northernmost breeding colonies of thick-billed guillemots.

The archipelago contains the only proven nesting sites of the Atlantic subspecies of the black goose in Russia, the main nesting sites of the Greenland subspecies of the common eider, as well as the places of periodic residence of the short-billed bean goose.

Location: Russia, Arkhangelsk region, part of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago and the Franz Josef Land archipelago.

Square: 1.5 million hectares

Specialization: conservation and study of rare species of animals and natural objects and complexes.

Russian Arctic is one of the youngest national parks in Russia. It manages the state nature reserve of federal significance “Franz Josef Land”, formed on April 23, 1994, with an area of more than 7 million hectares, of which 80% is the sea area.

The National Park is actively involved in environmental protection activities, including the elimination of the accumulated environmental damage in the Arctic and the preservation of such rare species of animals as the polar bear. All these projects have been supported by the Russian Geographical Society since 2010.

So, in April 2013, with the grant support of the Russian geographic society Scientists have started the program "Research of the role of the Franz Josef Land reserve in the conservation of populations of rare species of marine mammals and polar bears." Until September, the staff of the Russian Arctic National Park studied the islands of the Franz Josef Land archipelago, which are a kind of “last refuge” for animals displaced from everywhere by civilization and exposed to climate change.

Diet for a polar bear

During the spring and summer stages of the expedition, scientists conducted research on Alexandra Land, Graham Bell Island, the waters of the White, Barents and Kara Seas from ships and helicopters and covered more than 400 kilometers on snowmobiles to collect data on walruses, cetaceans and the largest land predator, the white bear.

Today, the number of polar bears does not exceed 20-25 thousand individuals worldwide. The shrinking ice cover of the Arctic seas and the changing age structure of sea ice are forcing polar bears to spend more time on the coast and on the islands; probably, there is a redistribution of animals within the range. Remaining on the shore for a long time, polar bears are deprived of access to their main food source - seals that live on sea ice(ringed seal and bearded seal). Hungry predators can more often go out to people, conducting conflict situations than they put themselves in danger. To preserve this species, the Russian Geographical Society has been supporting the "Polar Bear" project since 2010, the purpose of which is the preservation and study of these predators in the Russian Arctic, the development of non-invasive methods for collecting biological material (discarded guard hairs, excrement) for genetic studies of the structure of populations of the species in Russia.

The summer of 2013 in the Arctic was very different from the average long-term statistics - the amount of ice decreased markedly. Such changes cannot but affect the inhabitants of the region. During the expedition, scientists did not see a single sea ice floe. And since the life of local seals - seals and bearded seals - is closely connected with the ice, it is not surprising that these animals have never met the researchers. At the same time, seals are the basis of the polar bear's diet. With their departure, the predators began to be met at bird colonies, where they tried to pick out luriks from under the stones, and at walrus rookeries. What is remarkable the largest number bears - 11 individuals - scientists saw on one of the islands exactly at the walrus rookery.

Whales in the hole

Spring and summer expeditions to Franz Josef Land helped to identify new places of concentration of the rare Svalbard population of bowhead whales listed in the International Red Book, which in itself is a scientific achievement.

In the water area of the archipelago, whales live all year round. It is in the waters of the reserve and in the immediate vicinity that the only known stable summer feeding areas for bowhead whales are noted, and their regular wintering grounds are located in the polynyas. Monitoring work of the Russian Artika National Park carried out in last years, including with the grant support of the Russian Geographical Society, have convincingly shown that the water area of Franz Josef Land is a key habitat for bowhead whales, which must be preserved in order to preserve these animals.

Expedition results

Despite the small amount of ice and the short spring field season, scientists assess the results of the work as good. Among other things, the researchers mapped the distribution of marine mammals and polar bears in the Franz Josef Land reserve. Scientists have collected a lot of material about pinnipeds, in particular walruses - this is new information on their biology and distribution in the archipelago. For example, for the first time, data have been collected that most fully cover the entire summer population of the Atlantic walrus in Franz Josef Land, and information has been obtained on the interannual variability in the number of animals in rookeries. The material collected on the population genetic characteristics of Atlantic walruses̆ can play an important role in understanding the conservation status of the group living in the reserve.

During the spring-summer season of 2013, scientists have developed methodological approaches, tested new technical means, such as small aircraft for observations in the Arctic, purchased equipment for monitoring the animal population. Thanks to all this, the researchers intend to continue to carry out the work begun.

Among the results of the work, it is worth highlighting the fact that the research carried out partly formed the basis for the proposal to transfer the reserve "Franz Josef Land" to the status of a national park. The proposal to change the category is due to the fact that the nature reserve regime complicates the management of this specially protected natural area, especially the protection of its natural complexes.

However, the conversion of the reserve to the category of a national park can significantly reduce the area of the protected area. Currently, according to the documents, the area of the reserve is 4.2 million hectares. However, in reality, it occupies 2.5 times the territory: in 2006, the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute carried out a mathematical calculation based on the coordinates of the corner points, according to the results of which the area of the reserve exceeded 11 million hectares. The sea area of Franz Josef Land is 9.407 million hectares, which is 3.5 times more than 2.591 million hectares declared in the documents.

Scientists see a solution to the problem in the creation of a marine protection zone, which should cover the important habitats of marine mammals and polar bears, as well as the most important areas of the marine ecosystem for these animals, for example, dry ice holes.

Work continues

This year, the staff of the Russian Arctic National Park continue the work begun and have already carried out field work in Alexandra Land and Franz Josef Land to monitor the fauna of wormwood, populations of marine mammals and polar bears. It is planned to continue work on studying the population genetic structure of the Atlantic walrus herd, monitoring the polar bear population using genetic methods, and monitoring walrus rookeries using remote sensing.

The Russian North is an inaccessible and poorly explored territory. However, it never ceases to attract with its splendor. The reserved lands of Karelia, Obonezhie, Vologda need protection and care. The Russian Arctic National Park is designed to preserve the natural and cultural wealth of the exclusive part of the Russian North.

Possessions of the "Russian Arctic"

In order to realize Russia's potential in the Arctic, preserve the special nature of the North and conduct scientific research In 1999, the deputies of the Arkhangelsk Regional Assembly decided to organize the Russian Arctic National Park. It was planned to unite natural complexes in the Barents Sea, on Franz Josef Land and in the north of Novaya Zemlya. Ten years later, V.V. Putin ordered the establishment of the Russian Arctic National Park. The territory of the park includes many protected islands, among which Fr. Gemskerk, about. Loshkina, about. North, Oran Islands. The total area of the "Russian Arctic" is about 1.5 million hectares: most of the water area (about 790 thousand hectares).

Sanctuary "Franz Josef Land"

One of the most in the world is Franz Josef Land, the archipelago actually adjoins the "Russian Arctic". The archipelago's lands have been considered reserved since 1994, when the Franz Josef Land State Nature Reserve was established. The reserve, which is protected by the "Russian Arctic", was formed to preserve the pristine nature, solutions environmental issues, reproduction of resources. An important task is to protect the local fauna from human influence.

The lands of the archipelago are inhabited by polar bears, for which nature has created a favorable atmosphere for the establishment of offspring.

Walrus rookeries occupy significant areas of the reserve. On the islands of Apolonova and Stolichki, you can see rare Atlantic walruses in the rookery. Numerous here

Unique microclimate

"Russian Arctic" (the national park has a unique microclimate. The location of the park is peculiar. It is washed by two Barents and Kara seas. At the same time, the southwestern part of the Barents Sea is always free of ice, the Kara Sea, on the contrary, does not freeze only in summer near estuaries Such a feature of nature creates an exceptional microclimate in the park, in which there is such a variety of fauna, which is not found in any other Arctic territory.

Fauna

"Russian Arctic" is a national park with very few permanent inhabitants. There are only 11 species of animals, but they are all unique. Most of them are found in the Red Data Book of Russia: Atlantic walrus and new earth deer, bowhead whale and polar bear, narwhal and minke whale. The park plays an important role in the protection of the Kara-Barents polar bear population. Arctic foxes (on dry hills) and lemmings (near water bodies) live in the tundra zones of the park.

The Russian Arctic is an important habitat for the bowhead whale and its Svalbard population.

At the beginning of the 20th century, this rare mammal was on the verge of extinction. The population is now increasing. Marine mammals such as sea hare, ringed seal, Atlantic walrus, seal, narwhal are found in coastal waters.

Avifauna

The avifauna of the park is the largest in the Russian North. Conditions on the territory are favorable for permanent habitation and seasonal nesting. There is enough food here, especially in the warm season, there are many places for nesting, there are practically no predators. Terrestrial are the tundra partridge and snowy owl. Guillemots, polar guillemots, lyuriki, kittiwake, white gull, glaucous gull and other bird species nest on the rocky shores of the islands.

With all the diversity of avifauna, representatives of different populations rarely settle together. Lyuriks inhabit coastal areas and do not leave them even for winter quarters. Guillemots, on the contrary, only nest on the shore, and spend the rest of the time at sea, like gulls and kittiwakes. Glaucous predators and skuas settle near large nesting sites of seabirds that serve them.

The Russian Arctic National Park (Arkhangelsk) is also attractive for migratory birds. They come from southern countries in early spring, during the mating season. All passerines, with the exception of snow buntings, are migratory. Horned lark, Lapland plantain, wheatear, and tap dance nest in dry grass and under the Duck family is also represented in the "Russian Arctic", there are 12 species of them. Together with other freshwater birds, they nest and feed on Arctic lakes and streams. In September, colonies replenished with chicks migrate to warm places.

Cultural and historical heritage

National Park "Russian Arctic" is a place with a special historical and cultural heritage. Here are concentrated objects that have a connection with the history of the discovery of the Arctic. It is known that in the 11-12 centuries, fishing was carried out on the territory of the park, there was a hunt for walruses for their tusks, for polar foxes for their exceptional fur, for birds with rare feathers. The first European navigator to reach Novaya Zemlya was the Englishman Hugh Willoughby. His ship set out in 1553 to look for the northern passage from Europe to China. Reaching the south of Novaya Zemlya and making a stop at the mouth of the Varzina River, the entire crew died under mysterious circumstances, possibly from carbon monoxide. The famous Dutch navigator Willim Barents reached Novaya Zemlya at the end of the 16th century. He sailed near the northern coast of Novaya Zemlya, wintered on the island with the crew. On way back the navigator became fatally ill with scurvy. The crew returned home with valuable scientific observations.

The first Russian navigator to set off for Novaya Zemlya was Fyodor Rozmyslov. He spent about a year on the expedition, during which he made notes, described the territory and its features, conducted meteorological observations and geodetic works. His crew reached the mouth of the Matochkin Shara and had to return to Arkhangelsk. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Novaya Zemlya archipelago began to be visited more often, especially by Russian researchers. In 1909, Vladimir Rusanov, a Russian sailor, made the first reliable cartographic description of Novaya Zemlya. V Soviet time on the territory of the current park, various studies were carried out.

Ecotourism is currently developing here.

Everyone can visit the Russian Arctic National Park. Photos and videos can be taken from cruisers sailing from Murmansk and during numerous berths on the shores of the islands.

The Arctic is a mysterious territory that has long attracted romantics and explorers. Endless and, at first glance, deserted and lifeless spaces are actually full of the most diverse life. And this is exactly what you can see by visiting the Russian Arctic National Park - the northernmost of the protected lands of the Russian Federation, the third largest and the youngest park in Russia.

How it all began

National Park "Russian Arctic" in Russia has a fairly long history... He owes his creation to Peter Vladimirovich Boyarsky, known to most as a writer and publicist. But Petr Vladimirovich is a Soviet, and after a Russian geographer, historian, physicist and equestrian sports professional. An enthusiastic explorer of the Arctic expanses, it was he who, in 1986, was the first to voice the idea of the need for a comprehensive preservation and study of those northern expanses, which many consider lifeless.

It was thanks to him that in 1994 the Franz Josef Land Federal Reserve was formed, which later (in 2016) will become part of the Russian Arctic National Park.

Northernmost and youngest

Federal state state-financed organization The Russian Arctic National Park was established by order of the Government of Russia on a summer June 2009 day. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin advised all ministers to spend their vacations in these endless expanses, surrounded by landscapes that will fascinate forever. In 2011, the Federal State Budgetary Institution National Park "Russian Arctic" INN received a place of registration in the northern capital of Russia - Arkhangelsk.

Endless expanses

FSBI National Park "Russian Arctic" is 793 910 hectares of sea water areas and 632 090 hectares of land. This is the northern part of the North Island, all the islands of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago (Big and Small Oranskie, Gemskerk and others) and 192 islands of the most frozen land in our part of the Arctic - the Franz Josef Land archipelago. For information, the entire area of the National Park "Russian Arctic" with the lands of the reserve, which has already been mentioned, is more than 8.8 hectares of protected areas.

Why

To preserve and restore, if necessary, the unique nature of these territories is the main goal of the Russian Arctic National Park. The flora and fauna of these icy expanses, seemingly so lifeless, are mostly represented by the Red Data Book species.

And the first on the list is the narwhal - the one-horned whale, or the sea unicorn, which became the park's emblem. It is also home to polar bears, rare Atlantic walruses, bowhead whales and ivory gulls. But the list of the inhabitants of the land of colorful icebergs, turquoise sea surface and the never-setting polar sun does not end there. It is here that fifteen species of birds come to hatch their chicks.

Why park

All subjects of protected areas are subordinate to the Ministry natural resources and ecology of the Russian Federation. The main document that regulates the activities of such entities is the Federal Law of 14.03.1995 No. 33 - FZ "On Specially Protected Natural Areas". And when choosing the status of protected areas, the main thing should be taken into account - what kind of activity and to what extent will be carried out here. V natural parks a regime is established under which some economic activity is possible, ensuring the existence of the park. And this and research, and tourism, and regulated hunting.

Environmental problems of the Arctic territories

Today, not only Russia, but all the countries of the Arctic Council, created in 1996, are concerned about the state of the Arctic ecology. The development of oil and gas on the shelves, the loss of oil and its spills in the Arctic Ocean, uncontrolled poaching cause irreparable damage to the most untouched territories.

Do not forget about the melting of ice as a result of global warming. There are already known cases when, due to the rapid melting of ice, polar bears lost strength and drowned, unable to swim to the nearest ice floe.

The uniqueness of the National Park "Russian Arctic"

The great variety of life in these areas is due to several factors. From the west, the park is washed by the Barents Sea, which does not freeze under the influence of the North Atlantic Current. To the east is the Kara Sea, which is completely covered with ice. And there is also Franz Josef Land - the most icy part of the land. It is the combination geographic location, the absence of offshore developments and the not so great distance from the main continent contribute to the presence of a greater variety of life forms here than in other regions of the Arctic.

Features of tourism

One of the economic activities of the park is the development of ecological tourism. The first such season was held here in 2011, when 900 visitors visited it. But tourism is special here. These are mainly Arctic cruises, when people observe the landscapes, bird colonies and animals (walrus rookeries and bears with cubs) from the icebreaker ship.

Tourists can feel the hardness of the lands glorified in the sagas of the Scandinavians and legends of the Pomors only after they have undergone some procedures: washing shoes in a special solution, traveling by sea on dangerous rubber zodiacs and escorting park staff.

The most diverse bird colony in the Arctic is located on the Rubini Rock. And the Cape of Desire was at first the Cape of Desire. This is what Willem Barentsz called him when he was looking for a passage to India. But the Pomors discovered it long before it. They sailed here to catch big fish and called this promontory and the surrounding waters Revenues. Cape Fligeli, which is located in the chain of the Franz Josef Land archipelago, is the northernmost point of the Eurasian continent.

Arkhangelsk 163100 is the last post office on the way north. It is located on the island of Hayes and is open from 10 to 11 from Tuesday to Friday. Champa Island is the northern Easter Island. Only here (and not on any of the 190 islands of Franz Josef Land) are strange round stones of completely different sizes. Why they are, and who made them, no one knows.

There is a polar meteorological station on Hooker Island and it is in the form in which it was built in 1929. The era of Soviet development of the Arctic appears before the tourist in all its glory. The Germans established a base on Alexandra Island during World War II "Treasure hunter"(Schatzgraber), which was discovered after the war. It was so well equipped that Soviet polar explorers used it for a long time.

From June to September 2017, the park conducts 5 expeditions with tourists on the icebreakers 50 Let Pobedy, Akademik Shokalsky and Sea Spirit. And everyone can witness it have a wonderful trip... But volunteers from Arkhangelsk visit Russian Arctic more often. Every year, they and the park's staff carry out environmental campaigns to collect garbage on the islands of Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya.

The park contains places unique in Russia where black geese of the Atlantic subspecies nest. The main nesting territories of the common eider of the Greenland subspecies are also located here, and the short-billed bean goose nests periodically.

Everyone who has visited the Russian Arctic National Park says that they did not even imagine such beauties and amazing discoveries when going on a trip. And forever they remain admirers of these surprisingly deceptive lifeless spaces, so deserted and so filled with life.

National Park "Russian Arctic"

It is the northernmost and first largest specially protected natural area Russia. The area of the national park is 8.8 million hectares. Date of creation - June 15, 2009.

The park is located on two polar archipelagos in the Arkhangelsk region: Novaya Zemlya and Franz Josef Land, which can rightfully be called the “end of the earth”. There is no permanently residing population in the "Russian Arctic".

New earth

The southern cluster of the national park includes the northern part of the Northern island of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, the Big and Small Oran Islands, about. Gemskerk, about. Loshkina and a number of others. This is the territory of the municipal entity "City District" Novaya Zemlya ".

Many centuries ago, the Pomors called the extreme northern point of Novaya Zemlya - Cape Zhelaniya - “income”: a place beyond which to walk on the sea and carry out fishing is both dangerous and difficult. It has been established that Novgorodians went to Novgorod in the 11th-12th centuries. In 1596, Willem Barentsz circled the northern tip of the Severny Island and wintered on its eastern coast. V Soviet years a polar meteorological station operated on Cape Zhelaniya; a complex of fortifications from the times of the Great Patriotic War, as well as fishing camps of the first half of the twentieth century.

Cape Zhelaniya, where the Russian Arctic field base is located, is the confluence of two seas: Kara and Barents. The Barents Sea, washing the cape from the west, does not completely freeze under the influence of the warm North Atlantic current. On the contrary, the Kara Sea in the east is covered with solid ice for many months.

The Lomonosov Mountains and Mendeleev Mountains belong to the group of characteristic and especially memorable objects in the southern part of the national park.

The relatively small remoteness of Novaya Zemlya from the mainland and higher winter temperatures cause a greater variety of life forms than in other Arctic territories. On the islands and in the water area of Novaya Zemlya, 11 species of mammals are found: polar bears, Atlantic walruses, ringed seals, bearded seals (bearded seals), harp seals, belugas, whales - bowhead (polar) whale and Minke whale (minke whale). All this marine species... There are only three land animals: Arctic fox, hoofed lemming and reindeer. The islands of the archipelago with their gentle cliffs are a real paradise for 48 species of birds (most of them are marine or semi-aquatic). Of these, 18 species (kittiwakes, glaucous gulls, fulmars, thick-billed guillemots, puffins, etc.) nest here, the status of a dozen more species requires clarification

Fish: on Novaya Zemlya, within the boundaries of the park, there is the northern limit of the distribution of Novaya Zemlya anadromous char.

During the short Arctic summer, plants turn their leaves to the polar sun, of which there are 87 species (vascular). In this part of the national park, there are also more than 50 species of ground lichens, 65 species of mosses (leafy and hepatic), 18 species of algae and 39 species of mushrooms.

The northern cluster of the "Russian Arctic" is the Franz Josef Land archipelago (FFI). It is a group of 192 islands. The archipelago is part of the Talazhskoe municipal formation of the Primorsky District of the Arkhangelsk Region.

The length of the archipelago from west to east 375 km, from north to south - 234 km. From here closer to North Pole than before " big land": From the extreme northern point of the northernmost island of the archipelago - Cape Fligeli of Rudolf Island to the" crown "of the planet, only 900 km.

Until August 2016, the Franz Josef Land archipelago was part of the territory of the eponymous state nature reserve of federal significance, created on April 23, 1994. Since 2010, the reserve has been under the management of the Russian Arctic National Park. On August 25, 2016, according to the Decree of the Government of Russia, the reserve was liquidated: its territory entered the borders of the national park.

The existence of these lands was predicted by the great Pomor M.V. Lomonosov, however, due to their remoteness (distance to the Kola Peninsula - 1200 km, to Novaya Zemlya - 360 km) and inaccessibility, the archipelago was discovered only in 1873 by the Austro-Hungarian expedition of Karl Weiprecht and Julius Payer. It was named after the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph I.

In the 20th century, man left a noticeable mark on the archipelago: fuel barrels, scrap metal, coal, household and industrial waste. Therefore, in the XXI century, the Arctic "cleanup" began on the territory of the "Russian Arctic", the purpose of which is to return the fragile, vulnerable nature of high latitudes to its original appearance

The Franz Josef Land Archipelago is the most glacial land area in the Russian Arctic: 85% of the territory of its 192 islands is covered with glaciers.

All the islands of the archipelago belong to the climatic zone of the arctic deserts. The average temperature in January is -24 ° С, in July - -1.5-0 ° С. In winter, the thermometer can drop below -50 ° C.

Despite the truly harsh climate, the archipelago is not a lifeless space. Its nature is unique and charming in its own way. Here, as well as on Novaya Zemlya, 11 species of mammals live. Among the few other places, these islands are chosen by the owners of the Arctic - polar bears - for the birth and education of their babies. FFI is the second most important "maternity hospital" for polar bears. Atlantic walruses, ringed seals, bearded seal, bowhead whales, beluga whales, white-faced dolphins are marine mammals that chose Franz Josef Land and the archipelago as their home. Here you can meet the sea unicorn - the narwhal - the rarest marine animal that is the symbol of the "Russian Arctic". On the numerous rocks of the archipelago, chicks of 18 bird species are hatched, and a total of 50 bird species have been registered at the FZI, most of them are seabirds.

There are no freshwater fish in Franz Josef Land.

The flora of Franz Josef Land is represented mainly by mosses and lichens: there are 167 species of lichens, more than 30 species of liver mosses, about 120 species of green mosses and 94 species of mushrooms.

Due to the more severe climate, there are fewer vascular plants than in the north of Novaya Zemlya - about 50 species. Representatives of the saxifrage, cruciferous and clove families predominate. Here, just like on Novaya Zemlya, saxifrages, grains, polar poppies, etc. have time to bloom in summer.

"Russian Arctic" are islands in the Arctic Ocean remote from the continent. You can visit the hard-to-reach protected area during a sea cruise. Tourists to high latitudes are attracted by untouched unique landscapes - glaciers, snowfields and waterfalls; the famous globular nodules ("spherulites") of Champa Island; undisturbed ecosystems; animal world that can be observed in natural habitat; as well as a rich historical and cultural heritage, including about 200 (!) monuments and memorial sites of not only national but also international significance. And it is on the islands of the "Russian Arctic" - Hooker and Hayes (FFI) - that the most northern post offices in the world!