Bolshoy Begichev Island


Bolshoy Begichev is an island in the Laptev Sea, Russia.

Geography

The area of the island is 1764 km². Bolshoy Begichev is located within the Khatanga Gulf, splitting the gulf into two straits.

Adjacent Islands

Maliy Begichev

Only 8.5 km west of Bolshoy Begichev lies the much smaller island known as Maliy Begichev Island. Its size is only 15 km sq. The border between administrative divisions of the Russian Federation runs between the two Begichev islands, so that while Maliy Begichev is in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Bolshoy Begichev is in the Sakha republic.
Both Bolshoy Begichev and Maliy Begichev are named after Russian polar explorer Nikifor Begichev.

Preobrazheniya

North of Bolshoy Begichev lies small Preobrazheniya Island. This elongated granitic island was useful as a landmark for ships plying the Northern Sea Route in the past.

History

A NAVTEX Coast Station used to be situated on the island at 74°32’.00 N, 112°02’.00 E. However, according to the current NAVTEX list the station is no longer listed.