Salisbury Island (Russia) facts for kids
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Остров Солсбери
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View of Cape Fischer
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Location in the Zichy Land subgroup of the Franz Josef Archipelago.
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| Geography | |
| Location | Arctic |
| Coordinates | 80°55′N 56°08′E / 80.917°N 56.133°E |
| Archipelago | Zichy Land, Franz Josef Archipelago |
| Highest elevation | 482 m (1,581 ft) |
| Highest point | Unnamed |
| Administration | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Salisbury Island (Russian: Остров Солсбери) is a cool island found in the middle of Franz Josef Land, a group of islands in Russia. It's a place with lots of ice and a fascinating history!
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Exploring Salisbury Island
Salisbury Island is quite large, covering about 960 square kilometers (370 square miles). Imagine an island almost entirely covered in ice and snow! Its highest point reaches 482 meters (1,581 feet) above sea level.
Where is Salisbury Island Located?
This island is part of the Zichy Land group within the larger Franz Josef Land archipelago. It's surrounded by other islands, almost like a puzzle piece fitting snugly between them. You'll find Luigi Island and Champ Island to its southwest, Ziegler Island to the northeast, and Wiener Neustadt Island to the east.
How Did Salisbury Island Get Its Name?
The island was named by an explorer named Frederick George Jackson during his trip there between 1894 and 1897. He might have named it after Rollin D. Salisbury, a geology professor from the University of Chicago. Professor Salisbury was also a key person in an expedition to help another famous explorer, Robert Peary.
Another idea is that Jackson named the island after Lord Salisbury, who was an important political leader in Britain at the time.
Nearby Islands
Salisbury Island isn't alone! It has a few smaller islands close by, each with its own story.
- Elisabeth Island (Остров Елизаветы): This island is about 5 kilometers (3 miles) long and shaped like an oval. It's located 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) northwest of Salisbury Island. Unlike Salisbury, Elisabeth Island isn't covered in glaciers, and its highest point is 121 meters (397 feet). Frederick George Jackson named this island after his mother, Mary Elizabeth Jackson.
- Ostrova Kuchina (Острова Кучина): These are two very tiny islands found off the northeastern coast of Salisbury Island. One of them is super close to the shore! They were named after Alexander Kuchin, a brave Russian Arctic explorer. He was the only Russian on Roald Amundsen's famous expedition to the South Pole on the ship Fram. Sadly, Kuchin was lost during another expedition in 1912.
