The Irish standard., 1892-01-16
AN UNKNOWN LAND.
4 Solitary Explorers Work in
Novaya Zemlia.
His Discovery of Three New islands and
Many Other Things of Value to
the Scientific and Com
mercial Worlds. &

An interesting man has for three
years been studying the geography and
physical condition of one of the bleak
est parts of the world. His name is K.
Nossilof, and he was FIRST heard of in
1883 after he had spent year studying
the twin islands of Novaya Zemlia,
north of the European mainland. He
said he intended to devote five years to
Novaya Zemlia, and he has now com
pleted three years of investigation.
This persevering young Russian has re-
turned every year to Archangel, on the
northern coast of Europe, with valu
able botanical. 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 Zenlia The FIRST occasion
was when the famous Dutch explorer,
Willem Barents. rounded the northern
part of Novaya Zemlia and with his
little party spent the long winter night
of 1906 81 amid much hardship and dis
comfort on the northeast coast. The
ago when some Norwegians attached tc
an exploring party were SO enamored
of the life they led among the natives:
who had a temporary home on the twin
islands, that they remained behind
when their comrades returned to civil.
zation, and their friends saw no more
of them for year or two until they
grew weary of their isolation.
Nossilof. in the spring of 1889, re.
ported the discovery Of four coal fields
and deposits of iron, copper, gold and
sulphur, which he said would pay for
the working He also collected grea.:
deal of information regarding the ami
NAL life of the island, kept a careful
record Of the meteorological conditions,
and surveyed II large extent of country.
While engaged in tracing the coast
line he discovered three new islands,
one of which, about nineteen miles
long and three broad, he named Possiet
island. Last winter Nossilof lived at
the western entrance Of Matthew Ma
totshkin?| strait. lie had comfortable
house, which had been specially con.
structed for him after his own plans in
Archangel, and was carried on schoon-
er to Novaya Zenlia~
The significance of Nossilofs work
Is that almost single-handed and alone
he is exploring one Of the least known
parts Of the world. The best maps OF
Navaya Zemlia show little more than
blank spaces lin the interior. Seal
hunters say the island is very rocky, |
and it is likely that in the interior |
there are mountain chains running par !
allel with the coast. The country has
no inhabitants. but is visited annually /
by Samoyeds from the neighboring
mainland. In recent years a number
of expeditions, scientific and commer-
cial. have touched at Novaya Zemlia,
but the island is still little known,
and even the greater part of it's coast
line is not yet accurately laid down on
the maps.
During the summer of 1890 Nossilo1
made several excursions into the Kara
sea, collected many birds and animals,
part Of the coast and took
He says that last winter
was unusually stormy, and that the
sea renamed open until spring. Tor
rents of rain fell, so that the country
was covered with coating of ice and
many reindeer persisted from hunger.
Hundreds of seals were frozen on the
ice, and fish were thrown up in heaps
on the shore, The weather during
last spring and summer was very Sc
we're, and the temperature did not rise
above II degrees +, up to the end of
July The explorer was, however,
able to carry on the scientific work Of
his expedition without interruption.
Ind to make large geological investi-
cations.
This enthusiastic Russian has led
more isolated life during the last three
years than almost any other civilized
man. He has faith that there is good to
be obtained from Novaya Zemlia, and
believes it will pay to develop it's mineral
resources.
THE APT NE EENCING