Franz Joseph Land

Franz Josef Land is a 192-island archipelago. It is one of Russia's and the world's most northern territories, being as close to the North Pole as Northern Greenland. The island is located in the Arkhangelsk region's Primorsky district. Only researchers, border guards, and military air defense personnel who are in charge of the northern ballistic missile defense live there. Polar bear populations in the Russian Arctic are studied by special trips, which collect data on their travel and habitat.

One of the objectives is to figure out how to save the polar bear population, which is rapidly dwindling. The world's most northern post office, "Arkhangelsk 163100," was established here in 2005. Eighty-five percent of the archipelago is glaciated, with substantial unglaciated portions on both the largest and smallest islands. A total of 4,425 kilometers of shoreline connects the islands.

Many wildlife facilities are open during the summer on the archipelago. Seals, walruses, and white whales live here alongside the polar bears.

Location: Arctic Ocean

Area: 16,134 km²