Lyakhovsky Islands


The Lyakhovsky Islands are the southernmost group of the New Siberian Islands in the Arctic seas of eastern Russia.
The islands are named in honour of Ivan Lyakhov, who explored them in 1773.

Geography

They are separated from the mainland by the Laptev Strait, and from the Anzhu Islands group by the Sannikov Strait. Two islands dominate the group:
  • Bolshoy Lyakhovsky Island with a maximum altitude of on Emy Tas
  • Maly Lyakhovsky Island
  • Stolbovoy is a large island detached from the group.
  • Yaya Island
  • Off Great Lyakhovsky Island's southwestern cape lies a small islet called Ostrov Khopto-Terer.
  • Semyonovsky Island has now disappeared after heavy erosion. Before its disappearance, it was at 4 km2, one of the smallest islands in the archipelago.

    In popular culture

Part of the action of two novels by Jules Verne, Waif of the Cynthia and César Cascabel, takes place there. In the latter, the term "Liakhov Islands" refers to the New Siberian group as a whole, as the principal action is on Kotelny Island.