Arctic Physical Geography

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names Further reading

Novaya Zemlya

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

Novaya Zemlya , archipelago, c.35,000 sq mi (90,650 sq km), in the Arctic Ocean between the Barents and Kara seas, NW Russia. It consists of two main islands (separated by Matochkin Strait) and many smaller ones. The mountains, rising to c.3,500 ft (1,070 m), are a continuation of the Urals. In the north the archipelago is glaciated and covered by arctic desert; the southern part is tundra. Copper, lead, zinc, and asphaltite are found there. Fishing, sealing, and trapping are the chief occupations of the small population, which lives mainly along the western coast. The islands were used for thermonuclear testing by the Russians, who still maintain a nonnuclear weapons test site there. Explored by Novgorodians in the 11th or 12th cent., the islands were sighted by explorers searching for the Northeast Passage in the 1500s. Since the mid-1800s Russians have built settlements and scientific stations there.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Novaya Zemlya." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Novaya Zemlya." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-NovayaZe.html

"Novaya Zemlya." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-NovayaZe.html

Learn more about citation styles

Novaya Zemlya

Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names | 2005 | | Copyright

Novaya Zemlya, Russia An island group called ‘New Land’ from novaya ‘new’ and zemlya ‘land’, presumably in contrast to the ‘old land’, that is, the mainland.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Novaya Zemlya." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Novaya Zemlya." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-NovayaZemlya.html

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Novaya Zemlya." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-NovayaZemlya.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Russia preparing blast in Arctic, satellite shows: Site has been used for... Newspaper article from: The Washington Times (Washington, DC); 9/24/1998
	Russians may have tested nuclear device underground.(Nation) Newspaper article from: The Washington Times (Washington, DC); 9/15/1999
	Russia suspected of nuclear testing: Moscow says blast was an earthquake.(A) Newspaper article from: The Washington Times (Washington, DC); 8/28/1997