NOVA ZEMBLA

From Agepedia

NOVA ZEMBLA (JYovaia Zemlia, i. e. new land); the name of two large islands in the Northern ocean, separated by Matotshnoi straits, and belonging to the Russian government of Archangel; lat. 70° 35' to 77° N.; Ion. 47° 45' to 77° 20' E.; square miles 94,400. The Waigatz islands, to the south of Nova Zembla, are separated from the continent by the strait of the same name. The country is uninhabited, but is visited by Russian hunters and fishermen, some of whom pass the winter here. The reindeer, Arctic fox, ermine and white bear are the principal quadrupeds. Water fowl, whales, seals, and various species offish, abound. Dwarfwillows and some shrubs are found; moss and a short grass cover the ground in some places; but a great portion of the country consists of sterile rocks or sands. In the southern part, the sun disappears November 8, and does not rise again till the end of January. The twilight, however, continues about a fortnight, and the dreary horrors of these long nights are somewhat relieved by the northern lights. (See Aurora Borealis.) In general, the snow begins to fall in September, and lies till late in June, and in many places all the year round. In 1807, a Russian expedition was sent to examine a part of the coast, where silver was said to have been found; but no traces of it could be discovered. In 181922, the government caused the island to be explored.