Vaygach Island

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Vaygach Island (sometimes Vaigach) (Вайгач in Russian) is an island in the Arctic Sea on the border of the Barents Sea and Kara Sea.

Vaygach Island is separated from the mainland and Novaya Zemlya by the Yugorsky Strait and Kara Strait, correspondingly. The island is a part of the autonomous district of Nenetsia of the Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia.

Area: 3383 sq km
Length: approx. 100 km
Width: up to 45 km
Average temperatures: -20 °С (February), +5 °С (June)
Highest point: 170 m

Vaygach Island is mainly formed with argillaceous slates, sandstone, and limestone. There are many rivers (20-40 km in length), swamps, and small lakes on the island. It is covered with tundra vegetation. The settlements of Vaygach, Dolgaya Guba and Varnek are located on the island.

The name of the island is derived from Dutch 'Waaigat', which means 'Windy Hole'. A 17th century Dutch discoverer named the island.

External links

[Vaigach - The 'Easter Island of the Arctic']

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