The territory of the region covers 589.9 thousand sq. The Novaya Zemlya islands are also included in the region. Population of the region is 1,493,000, with a population density of 2.5 inhabitants per sq.
Severe climate is associated with close location of the region to Arctic seas and the Arctic Ocean.
Winter is cold, with temperature as low as 26 degrees C below zero, and summers are cool. The Main Industries 17,027 enterprises and institutions representing different forms of property and management were registered in the region in the beginning of 1998. 127 enterprises, and pieces of fixed and land property were privatized during 1997. The timber industry plays an important role in the regional economy. There appeared to be stabilization in the timber industry in 1999, as production volumes stopped falling.