Graham Bell Island

Graham Bell
Native name: <span class="nickname" ">Остров Греэм-Белл

Location of Graham Bell Island in the Franz Josef Archipelago
Graham Bell Island (Russia)
Geography
Location Kara Sea
Coordinates 80°51′59″N 64°17′21″E / 80.866389°N 64.289167°E / 80.866389; 64.289167
Archipelago Franz Josef Land
Area 1,557 km2 (601 sq mi)
Highest elevation 509 m (1,670 ft)
Highest point unnamed
Administration
Russia

Graham Bell Island (Russian: Остров Греэм-Белл) is an island located at 80°51′59″N 64°17′21″E / 80.8663889°N 64.2891667°E / 80.8663889; 64.2891667 in the Franz Josef Archipelago, Russia.

Graham Bell Island is one of the largest islands of the group and it is partly glacierized. Its highest point is 509 m. This island lies east of Wilczek Land, separated from it by a narrow sound known as Morgan Sound (Пролив Моргана; Proliv Morgana). It is the easternmost island of Franz Josef Land. Cape Kohlsaat, the easternmost point of the archipelago at 81°14′N, 65°10′E, lies on Graham Bell Island's eastern shore. Cape Kohlsaat marks the northwestern-most corner of the Kara Sea, therefore it is a significant geographical landmark.

This island was named after inventor Alexander Graham Bell. Graham Bell Island should not be confused with the smaller Bell Island which is also part of the Franz Josef Archipelago and which was also named after the same person.

History

Graham Bell Island is home to a Cold War outpost and to the airfield Greem Bell (81°09′N 64°17′E / 81.150°N 64.283°E / 81.150; 64.283) on the Northeastern end of the island. It is the largest airfield in the archipelago. It has a runway 2,100 m (7,000 ft) long. Russian cargo and fighter aircraft have regularly landed here since the 1950s. The runway was usable only in the 8 months with sufficiently frozen ground. Before it was shut down it was also used for tourist helicopter trips around the Russian arctic as a stopover and refueling base. The base was shut down completely in 1994. It began falling into ruins and was subsequently closed to normal visitors.[1] In 2012, the Russian Air Force decided to reopen Graham Bell Airfield as part of a series of reopenings of air bases in the Arctic.[2]

Adjacent Islands

See also

References

Citations

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