Russian Arctic

Introduction to the Russian Arctic Desert

The Russian Arctic is often imagined as endless ice, yet large parts of it are a true polar desert – a land so cold and dry that snow behaves like sand and wind sculpts it into drifting dunes. Here, on remote archipelagos like Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya and Severnaya Zemlya, the landscape is dominated by glaciers, bare rock and thin soils. Life survives in narrow bands of moss, lichen and hardy animals, clinging to ledges and coastal flats where conditions are just gentle enough to allow them to live.

Where the Polar Desert Meets the Russian North

This polar desert belt runs along the northern edge of Russia’s Arctic zone, above the vast tundra and forest-tundra of Siberia. To the south lie regions like the Kola Peninsula, Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Yamal, where reindeer herders and industrial towns share the same frozen ground. To the north, the Arctic Ocean is covered by sea ice for most of the year, broken by leads of dark water and floating ridges of compressed ice. The Russian Arctic forms more than half of the coastline of the entire Arctic Ocean, making it a key piece of the circumpolar enviroment.

Related articles: Arctic Desert (Polar Desert)

Geography and Physical Landscape

The Russian Arctic desert is not a single continuous plain. It is a mosaic of ice-capped islands, rocky capes and shallow seas stitched together by drifting ice. On Franz Josef Land, glaciers spill down to the coast in white walls that calve into fjords filled with floes. On Novaya Zemlya, steep cliffs rise above narrow beaches of gravel and ice shards, while Severnaya Zemlya combines rolling plateaus with massive ice domes. Inland, permafrost keeps the ground permanently frozen just below the surface, and summer melt only softens a thin active layer where plants can root.

Climate and Weather in a Polar Desert

Although temperatures regularly plunge far below zero, the defining feature of this Arctic desert climate is its lack of moisture. Cold air holds little water, so clouds are often thin and precipitation light. Much of the area receives less annual water than many hot deserts, but it falls mostly as dry snow. In winter, polar night covers the region in darkness for months, and strong winds drive blizzards that can strip exposed ridges almost bare. In the short summer, the sun circles low but never sets, creating 24-hour daylight that melts snoww in sheltered spots and allows small patches of ground to warm just enough for plants and insects to awaken.

Flora of the Russian Arctic Desert

Plant life in the Russian Arctic desert is sparse but surprisingly diverse when you look closely. Between patches of ice and stone, mosses and lichens form miniature carpets that hug the ground, trapping heat and moisture. Tiny cushion plants and low-growing herbs bloom quickly during the brief summer, producing flowers in shades of white, yellow and purple. In places where seabirds nest, guano enriches the soil, and the contrast is striking – lush green swards just a few centimetres high amid a sea of bare rock. These micro-oases of fertility support much of the region’s food web, showing how a little nutrients can transform a cold desert.

Wildlife: Life on the Edge of Ice

Despite the harsh conditions, the Russian Arctic supports some of the most emblematic animals on Earth. Polar bears roam sea ice and coastal zones, hunting seals at breathing holes and resting on drifting floes. Arctic foxes patrol bird cliffs and coastal flats, scavenging carcasses and caching food for lean times. Offshore, walrus and seals haul out on ice or small islands, while whales pass through open leads and polynyas. The cliffs of Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya host massive seabird colonies of kittiwakes, murres and Ivory gulls, turning quiet fjords into noisy, thriving rookeries each summer. Life here is tuned to the rhythm of ice, light and brief abundance.

People, Cultures and the Wider Russian Arctic

The most extreme polar desert islands of the Russian Arctic are uninhabited, but the broader region is home to about 2.5 million people, nearly half of the entire Arctic population. Many live in coastal cities like Murmansk and Norilsk, while Indigenous peoples – Nenets, Chukchi, Evenki and others – maintain traditions of reindeer herding, fishing and hunting across tundra and sea ice. Their knowledge of snow types, ice behaviour and animal migration is essential for moving safely in this environment. At the same time, large industrial projects, ports and mines have grown along the Northern Sea Route, linking the Russian Arctic with Europe and Asia. This mix of old and new makes the region a meeting point of traditional lifeways and modern infrastructure.

Permafrost, Sea Ice and a Changing Environment

Beneath the tundra and polar desert lies permafrost, ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years and often for centuries. In much of northern Russia, this frozen layer extends hundreds of meters deep and locks away enormous stores of organic carbon. As the climate warms, permafrost thaw can destabilize buildings, pipelines and roads and release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Sea ice is also thinning and retreating earlier in the season, reshaping habitats for ice-dependent species and opening new shipping opportunities along the Northern Sea Route. For visitors and residents alike, understanding these rapid shifts is crucial for traveling and working safely in this fragile polar desert.

Protected Areas and Conservation

To safeguard this unique Arctic desert ecosystem, Russia has created large protected areas, including the Russian Arctic National Park. This park covers extensive parts of Franz Josef Land and northern Novaya Zemlya, protecting breeding grounds for seabirds, polar bears and marine mammals across nearly 9 million hectares of land and sea. Conservation efforts focus on cleaning up former military sites, regulating tourism and monitoring wildlife populations. For the polar desert, even small disturbances can linger for decades, so careful visitor management and strict waste control are essential to keep glaciers, beaches and bird cliffs as untouched as possible.

Travel and Research in the Russian Arctic Desert

Reaching the Russian Arctic desert usually means joining an ice-strengthened expedition ship or scientific cruise from ports such as Murmansk or Arkhangelsk. Voyages typically explore Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya and nearby seas, landing where ice and weather allow. Travelers can expect Zodiac cruises among icebergs, visits to historic expedition sites and quiet hours watching walrus or seabird colonies from a respectful distance. Modern research stations and institutes, like the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, maintain long-term observations of glaciers, sea ice and climate across the Russian High Arctic, turning this remote polar desert into one of the most closely studied cold regions on the planet.