It looked like an elongated crescent, 600 miles long by 60 wide, and lay between 70 degrees 30 minutes and 77 degrees N. latitude and 52 degrees and 60 minutes E. longitude.
Its northeastern extremity was west of the meridian of Yalmal peninsula, and its southern was separated from Vaygach island by Kara Strait, 30 miles wide.
Nova Zembla was cut through the middle by a narrow winding channel called the Matotchkin Shar connecting the Arctic Ocean with the Kara Sea.
Upon a nearer approach to it Frank closely examined the place with a glass, and gained a fair idea of the interior.
The western coast was greatly indented by fjord-like bays and studded with many islands, and was less ice-bound than might be supposed, as a continuation of the warm current of the Gulf Stream flowed along the coast.
In the interior was an alpine region with isolated mountain peaks, a complicated system of spurs and deep valleys extending even under the sea.
At the north was a vast swelling of land covered with an immense ice sheet descending north and south to the sea coast.
All this region was covered with fields of snow descending in broad strips along the slopes of the isolated peaks, and feeding mighty glaciers in the deeper valleys.
While Frank was sizing up the desolate place a dense fall of snow began that hid the island from his view.
It was impossible to see where they were going, and as the wind had shifted around, it became necessary to furl the sails.