Academy of Sciences Glacier, Arctic glacier in Severnaya Zemlya archipelago, Russia
Academy of Sciences Glacier is a massive ice sheet covering much of Komsomolets Island in the remote Arctic archipelago of Severnaya Zemlya. The ice surface slopes down toward the surrounding seas and dominates the landscape across hundreds of kilometers.
This glacier was first mapped and named during a Soviet expedition between 1930 and 1932 when explorers Georgy Ushakov and Nikolai Urvantsev documented the previously unknown Severnaya Zemlya archipelago. Their work added a vast territory to Russian geographic knowledge and Arctic science.
The glacier received its name from the USSR Academy of Sciences, reflecting the significant role of scientific research in Arctic exploration and development.
This glacier sits in one of the most remote and difficult-to-reach areas on Earth, accessible only through specialized Arctic expeditions. Visitors should expect extreme weather conditions and must arrange travel through professional operators experienced in this region.
This ice formation represents the largest single glacial structure in Russia, containing 2785 cubic kilometers of ice mass across its circular shape.
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