The Arctic Cape (also called Mys Arkticheskiy from the Russian Мыс Арктический) is the northernmost point of the Komsomolets Island, which in turn is the northernmost island of the Russian Severnaya Zemlya archipelago in the Arctic Ocean. Its coordinates are approximately 81°13′N 95°15′E / 81.217°N 95.25°E / 81.217; 95.25Coordinates: 81°13′N 95°15′E / 81.217°N 95.25°E / 81.217; 95.25. Under Joseph Stalin the cape was known as Cape Molotov.
With a distance of 990.7 km to the North Pole, the Arctic Cape is sometimes used as starting point for expeditions to the North Pole.
The Arctic Cape is not the northernmost point of Russia and Eurasia. That distinction goes to Cape Fligely (mys Fligeli) on Rudolf Island (ostrov Rudolfa), an island in the Franz Josef Land archipelago. The northernmost point of mainland Asia is Cape Chelyuskin.
This cape also marks the Kara Sea's northeastern limit, which is the eastern end of a line running from Cape Kohlsaat in Franz Josef Land to the Arctic Cape.
Famous quotes containing the words arctic and/or cape:
“Does the first wild-goose care
whether the others follow or not?
I don’t think so he is so happy to be off
he knows where he is going
so we must be drawn or we must fly,
like the snow-geese of the Arctic circle.”
—Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961)
“A solitary traveler whom we saw perambulating in the distance loomed like a giant. He appeared to walk slouchingly, as if held up from above by straps under his shoulders, as much as supported by the plain below. Men and boys would have appeared alike at a little distance, there being no object by which to measure them. Indeed, to an inlander, the Cape landscape is a constant mirage.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)