Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1892-03-30
an UNKNOWN LAND.
a. Solitary Explorers Work. In
Novaya zemlia
Ills Discovery OF Three New Islands ~
Many Other Things of Value TO
the Scientific and Conn., s
mercthrW Worlds.

An interesting man has for three
years been studying the geography and
physical condition Of one of the bleak
cst parts of tho world. His name is X.
tIossilof, and he WINS first heard Of in
$3.50 after he had spent n year studying
INC, twin islands-of Novnya Zemlia,
north of the European mainland: He
said he intended to devote five years to-
Eovaya Zcmlia, and he has now COM.
Dlctcd three years of investigation.
This ~perscvering young Russian has re-
turned every year to Archangel, ID, the
northern. coast of, Europe, with yalu-
able ~b2tanical, mineral and geological
specimens. He has carried on his work
With only one or two assistants, and
they have passed at. least one dark
winter in that bleak land. Only twice
before have white explorers wintered
in: Novaya Zcmlia. The first occasion
was when the famous Dutch; explorer,
WillcEa Darents, rounded the northern
3urt of Novaya Zcmlia and: With his
little party spent the long winter night
pf:1J9G-'07 amid much hardship and dis
comfort on tho. northeast coast The
second OCCASION was not many years
ago when some Norwegians attached to
IN exploring party were so enamorcd
Of tho life they led among the natives,
who had temporary home on tho twin
Islands, THAT they remained behind
~Slcnithc;r GOmradcsretHruCStto, qivili-
aation, and their friends saw DO more
Of them for q year or-trvo. until they
grew weary of their isolation,
Nossiiof, in the spring of 1850, re-
ported the discOvery-Sf of, four coal fields
~End deposits Of. iron> copper, gold, and
sulphur, which he said would pay for
thc working. lie also collcctedn great
deal Of infortaation regarding the ami
NAL life of the island lrEt a careful
record of the meteorological conditions,
and surveyed IL lurTc cXtcntsoi country.
While CuC&. Cd il. tagging the coast
line lie discovered three new. islands,
one of which,. about nineteen miles
long and large .bro2il, he named Pqssict
ISLAND. La il, WINTER Nossilof lived Mt
The western vnJrancc of NIat,ncw Ma
totShl;ilti strait, lie hid nccmfortable
house, which had been specially con-
"tructed for him ,after sis own p ans in
A~rcianGef, NJ = .carriedon u schoon-
or to Novaya .-IEliIa.
The significance Of Nossilof's work
is'thnt almost, sin~gle-handed ;;pd alone
he is exploring ono of The least known
parts Of the world. Tho. best maps of
,1yaya EGrniia show little moro than
-!ldnli spaces lin tho, interior. Seal
hunters by. the island is very rocky,
ana it is likely that in the interior
thcre arc mountain chains running par
:lllcl with tho coast. The country has
no inhabitants, but is visited annually
- Sarnoyods from the neighbpring
mainland In: recent years Rnpaphcr
Of cXpcdItIonsS. scientific and CONNER
1ial, JlnVe, touched ut Novayn Zemlia,
Hut the island is still little known,
and even the greater part of its coas
inc Is not yet accurately laid down on
tho maps.
During the summer of 1900 Nossilof
made several excursions into the Kara
sea, collected, many birds and animals,
surveyed II part of the coast and took
s,oundings. lie says that last winter
vas unusually stormy, and that the
''tha" r2marncd open until spring. Tor,
Tcnts Of rain fell, SO that the country
vas covered with n coating of ice and
many r2indccr persisted from hunger.
hundreds of seals were frozen on the
&c, md fish were thrown up in heaps
Hn the shore. Tho weather during
last spring md sumIRcr~ was very Sc.
tcro, md the temperature did not rise
&1oNa4l degrees r. up to the end OF
July. The explorer was, however,
abi2 to carry ON tho scientific work OF
q expedition withoub interruption,
adj TO make large geological ipvesti.
tS@tions. . e..
This enthusiastic. Ruesian> has led 8
rnora isolated Life during tlrp last three
nara than almost any other civilized
nan. lie has faith that there is good t,
10 obtaipcd from Novnya Zemlia. ant
"~,lievesit win poy 70 develop its minera