Cape Zhelaniya
A desolate Arctic headland marking the boundary between the Barents and Kara Seas.
Cape Zhelaniya (Cape Desire) is a geographical landmark located at the northern end of Severny Island, the northern island of Novaya Zemlya. It is defined by the International Hydrographic Organization as the point from which the eastern limit of the Barents Sea is drawn: a line from Cape Kohlsaat to Cape Zhelaniya, then along the west and southwest coast of Novaya Zemlya. This cape marks the boundary between the Barents Sea and the Kara Sea, with the islands of Novaya Zemlya separating the two seas as an extension of the northern end of the Ural Mountains.
- location
- Northern end of Severny Island, Novaya Zemlya, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russian Feder
- original_name
- Den Hoeck der Begeerte (Cape Desire)
Lore & Background
The cape's name originates from the historical Dutch navigator Willem Barentsz, for whom the Barents Sea is named. The lands of Novaya Zemlya attained most of their early Holocene coastal deglaciation approximately 10,000 years before the present. The area in the vicinity of the cape is a desolate place, exposed to bitter Arctic winters. During the Cold War, the Soviet Red Banner Northern Fleet used the southern reaches of the Barents Sea as a ballistic missile submarine bastion, and nuclear contamination from dumped Russian naval reactors is an environmental concern in the Barents Sea. The elevated pollution in the Barents Sea, including from decades of Soviet nuclear tests and radioactive waste dumping, has caused elevated rates of disease among locals.
Reader's Guide
Cape Zhelaniya holds significance as a geographic point of reference that separates the northern ends of the Barents Sea and the Kara Sea. According to the International Hydrographic Organization, the eastern limit of the Barents Sea runs from Cape Kohlsaat to Cape Zhelaniya (Desire), then along the west and southwest coast of Novaya Zemlya to Cape Kussov Noss. Its remote and harsh environment made it a strategic location for Soviet activities during the Cold War. The Barents Sea has been called by sailors 'The Devil's Dance Floor' due to its unpredictability and difficulty level, and ocean rowers call it 'Devil's Jaw'.
Did You Know?
- Cape Zhelaniya is the point from which the eastern limit of the Barents Sea is drawn, according to the International Hydrographic Organization.
- The Barents Sea was named after the Dutch navigator Willem Barentsz, who led early expeditions to the far north at the end of the 16th century.
- The lands of Novaya Zemlya attained most of their early Holocene coastal deglaciation approximately 10,000 years before the present.
- The Barents Sea has been called by sailors 'The Devil's Dance Floor' due to its unpredictability and difficulty level.
- Nuclear contamination from dumped Russian naval reactors is an environmental concern in the Barents Sea.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cape Zhelaniya?
Cape Zhelaniya is a desolate Arctic headland perched at the northernmost tip of Severny Island in Novaya Zemlya, within Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. Its Russian name translates roughly to "Cape of Desire," echoing the Dutch name given to it over four centuries ago.
Where exactly is Cape Zhelaniya located?
It sits at the very top of Severny Island, the larger northern island of Novaya Zemlya, in the High Arctic. Administratively it belongs to Arkhangelsk Oblast in the Russian Federation and falls within the boundaries of the Russian Arctic National Park.
Who named Cape Zhelaniya and what was its original name?
Dutch explorer William Barents christened the headland Den Hoeck der Begeerte, meaning "Cape Desire," during his 1595 voyage. The later Russian name Zhelaniya (from желание, "wish/desire") simply carries that original meaning into the local language.
Why is Cape Zhelaniya geographically significant?
The cape marks the precise point where the northern boundaries of the Barents Sea and the Kara Sea meet, making it a key cartographic and navigational reference in the High Arctic. It is one of the most northerly named headlands in the Russian Arctic.
What historical roles has Cape Zhelaniya played?
During World War II it housed a Soviet Arctic station, and in the Cold War era it was used as an experimental facility. A weather station continued operating there until 1994, after which the site reverted to its present-day desolation.
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