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Belkovsky Island

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Belkovsky Island is a special place in the Laptev Sea. It is the westernmost island in the Anzhu Islands group. This group is part of the larger New Siberian Islands. The island belongs to the Russian Federation. It is located in a region called Yakutia. You can find a small islet called Ostrov Strizhëva near the southern shore.

The land here is covered in a type of ground called tundra. This tundra is made of very low plants. You might see rushes, grasses, and forbs. Mosses, lichens, and liverworts also grow across the surface. These plants cover most of the ground. The soil is usually moist and fine. It often looks bumpy or hummocky.

Many animals call this island their home. There are large colonies of seabirds living here. You can also find a walrus rookery. A rookery is a place where animals gather.

A Russian merchant named Belkov found the island in 1808. This was a long time ago. The island covers about 500 square kilometers. Its highest point is 120 meters tall. Between this island and Kotelny Island is the Zarya Strait. This water path is named after a polar ship called the Zarya.

The ground beneath the plants is made of many different rocks. These rocks were folded together in layers. Some layers are from the Upper Devonian period. These include limestone, sandstone, and clay. Other layers are from the Lower Carboniferous period. These layers have siltstone and sandstone. You can even find bits of rhyolitic lava there.

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