Start here for a master overview of the archipelago, its key facts, and how its remote pieces fit together.
Polar night in Franz Josef Land is the period of continuous darkness that lasts about 133 days each year, beginning in early November and ending in mid‑February. It is the longest polar night in Russia, affecting the entire archipelago from Rudolf Island to Alexandra Land. The phenomenon shapes the region’s climate, wildlife behaviour, and scientific research.
The midnight sun is the period of continuous daylight that occurs each summer on Franz Josef Land, the high‑Arctic Russian archipelago centred at 81° N. Owing to its extreme latitude, the islands experience several months without night, profoundly influencing local climate, wildlife behaviour and scientific observations.
