Notes on the Glacial Geology of Arctic Europe and its Islands. Part I.: Kolguev Island

Abstract

During the month of July 1895, after two ineffectual attempts to reach Novaya Zemlya, owing to the great accumulation of ice in Barents Sea, we ran down the dge of the ice-pack, which extended intact from Novaya Zemlya to the northern end of the Island of Kolguev. We were fortunate enough to meet with a day so fine and a sea so smooth that our party of five persons landed without difficulty at the mouth of the Gobista River, on the southwestern side of Kolguev. Our yacht was sent back to Vardo for coal, and we reminded on Kolguev for ten days, encountering very inclement weather. A most opportune break in an almost continuous series of gales and fogs enabled us to leave Kolguev on the return to our vessel, without difficulty or danger. The Island of Kolguev lies in Barents Sea, distant some 50 miles from the manland of Arctic Russia, and about 130 miles southwest from the nearest part of Novaya Zemlya. Its greatest breadth is about 50 miles, and its extreme length 40 miles; the general shape is oval. The superficial area may be roughly estimated at 2000 square miles. As a familiar comparison, we might liken it in extent to our East Anglian country of Norfolk. The soundings between Kolguev and the mainland of Europe do not exceed 30 fathoms, while, in all probability, 70 fathoms is the extreme depth between it and Novaya Zemlya. Kolguev, however, differs completely in geological structure from the mountainous islands