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Native name: Южный остров | |
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  Yuzhny Yuzhny Island (Russia) | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Arkhangelsk Oblast,Russia |
| Coordinates | 72°N54°E / 72°N 54°E /72; 54 |
| Archipelago | Novaya Zemlya |
| Area | 33,275 km2 (12,848 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 41st |
| Highest elevation | 1,291 m (4236 ft) |
| Highest point | Mount Pervosvotrennaya |
| Administration | |
| Oblast | Arkhangelsk Oblast |
| Largest settlement | Belushya Guba[1] |
Yuzhny Island (Russian:Южный остров,romanized: Yuzhniy ostrov,lit. 'southern island') is the southern island ofRussia'sNovaya Zemlyaarchipelago, lying north of mainland Russia. It has an area of 33,275 square kilometres (12,800 sq mi), which while smaller than the northern island ofSeverny, still makes it one of thelargest islands in the world. It is separated from Severny Island by the narrowMatochkin Strait, which is covered with ice most of the year. West of Yuzhny Island lies theBarents Sea, to the north theArctic Ocean, to the east theKara Sea, and to the south thePechora Sea.
Originally home to theNenets people, the island was largely evacuated in the 1950s to make way fornuclear weapons testing.[2]
Yuzhny Island is known for its largeseabird population. The island's vegetation largely consists oftundra.
