Zapovednik Wrangel Island

The reserve spans across Wrangel Island in the Arctic Ocean, containing tundra, ice fields, and coastal wetlands between the East Siberian and Chukchi Seas.

The Russian government established the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve in 1976 to protect Arctic ecosystems, leading to its UNESCO World Heritage designation in 2004.

Indigenous communities developed hunting practices and navigation methods specific to the Arctic conditions of Wrangel Island over many generations.

Access to the reserve requires special permits from Russian authorities, and visitors can reach the island through authorized expedition cruises during summer months.

The island served as the final refuge for woolly mammoths, which survived there until approximately 4,000 years ago, long after their mainland extinction.

Location: Chukotka Autonomous Okrug

Inception: March 23, 1976

Operator: Федеральное государственное бюджетное учреждение "Государственный заповедник "Остров Врангеля"

Website: http://ostrovwrangelya.org

GPS coordinates: 71.23333,179.40000

Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:42