Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island

Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island is a large landmass in the New Siberian archipelago located in the Russian Arctic. The island features rolling hills, coastal cliffs, and expanses of tundra terrain with sparse vegetation adapted to extreme cold.

Russian merchant Ivan Lyakhov led an expedition to this remote Arctic location in the late 18th century. His exploration marked one of the first systematic investigations of the archipelago and its geography.

The Kigilyakh Peninsula received its name from the Yakut language, where 'kigilyakh' refers to the weathered rock formations resembling stone figures.

Access is severely limited and requires special permits along with thorough preparation for extreme cold and remote conditions. Visitors should expect long, intensely cold winters and brief summers when temperatures rise above freezing.

The frozen ground contains remains from ancient times, including bones of extinct animals and preserved plant material. These buried treasures offer scientists valuable clues about past climates and creatures that walked the region thousands of years ago.