Norwegian Arctic Expansionism, Victoria Island (Russia) and the Bratvaag Expedition

• Main Authors: Ian Gjertz, Berit Mørkved
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1998
• Subjects: Key words; Franz Josef Land; Victoria Island; Norwegian claim; acquisition of sovereignty; Arctic; Ostrov Viktoriya
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.560.3907; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic51-4-330.pdf

ABSTRACT. Victoria Island (Ostrov Viktoriya in Russian) is the westernmost island of the Russian Arctic. The legal status of this island and neighbouring Franz Josef Land was unclear in 1929 and 1930. At that time Norwegian interests attempted, through a secret campaign, to annex Victoria Island and gain a foothold on parts of Franz Josef Land. We describe the events leading up to the Norwegian annexation, which was later abandoned for political reasons.