Window On The North
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Unfound Land, Part II
The Arctic deserts of Russia are infused with gold and platinum, but their remote location makes access difficult. During the Soviet era, political prisoners and criminals mined these rich resources. To be sent to the most distant regions of the country was a death sentence.
Léon Theremin was a brilliant and successful Russian scientist. In the 1930’s he worked in the United States under the mentorship of Joseph Schillinger and Albert Einstein. As the threat of another world war approached, he returned to the Soviet Union. Upon arrival in his home country, Theremin was imprisoned and sent to work in an Arctic death camp.
Rumors of his death spread across the country. But in truth, government officials moved him to a secret research laboratory. There, Theremin invented laser devises and espionage technology. He was released in 1956 and rehabilitated. Today, this extremely remote area remains unpopulated. A few Arctic lakes and mountain rages remained unfound until 1926. These photographs reveal that the gems of Siberia are not only beneath the earth, but also along the coastline.
The Arctic deserts of Russia are infused with gold and platinum, but their remote location keeps them conceiled. During the Soviet era, political prisoners and criminals mined these rich resources. Being sent there was a death sentence.
Léon Theremin was a brilliant and successful Russian scientist. In the 1930’s he worked in the United States under the mentorship of Joseph Schillinger and Albert Einstein. As the threat of another world war approached, he returned to the USSR. Upon arrival in his home country, Theremin was imprisoned and sent to work in an Arctic death camp.
Rumors of his death spread across the country. But in truth, government officials moved him to a secret research laboratory. There, Theremin invented laser devises and espionage technology. He was released in 1956 and rehabilitated. Today, this extremely remote area remains unpopulated. As an example, a few of the region’s lakes and mountain ranges remained unfound up until 1926. The photographs in this article reveal that the gems of Siberia are not only beneath the earth, but also along the coastline.
Unfound Land, Part I
Beyond the evergreen forests of Siberia lies a land bound by sea and ice. It’s granulated coast is home to violent, dangerous predators and beleaguered by inclement weather. The region’s only settlement is unreachable by road and surrounded by large volcanoes. It is the most volcanic terrain on earth. Swells funnel into narrow bays and peak on silty sandbars.
Superbly shaped waves result when reefs focus the swell energy along the shallow contours of the sea floor (above). Many of the waves are rivermouth waves, the result of rivers spewing sediment into the sea. Rain cascades down the face of the mountains, dragging with it stony debris. As the rain coalesces into a stream, water and gravity pull larger rocks down toward the ocean.
Through continual friction, the stone is ground into a fine sediment. The velocity of the stream slows as it reaches horizontal terrain, looping and bending toward the sea. Sediment and sand is deposited along the way (above). This raw coastline is a beautiful example of the natural dynamics found in geology and oceanography. In part II of “Unfound Land” we will uncover some of the incredible waves breaking along the hidden landmass beyond Siberia.
Mystery Eurasia
In an obscure land, a rare swell tracks across the ocean and lights up dormant point breaks with flawless surf. It’s an uncommon sight. The swell window is incredibly narrow, and the body of water is small. But when the right conditions coincide, it’s nothing short of “all time”. The harbor along this stretch of coast is seldom heard of, connecting a city rarely seen by Western eyes with the rest of the world. Cold winters lock the boats in ice.
Many facts about the surf are unclear. But we can see that the potential is great, although the consistency is uncertain. Notice the photograph above. With infrequent swells, chances are that most good waves go unridden.
A point break spot check in the fall season. Waves arrive from unusual storm trains in the south.
Terra Nova
This coastline is still new in the eyes of history. Winter waves crack on slabby undersea formations. Icebergs drift the lineup, and whales too. A thick wetsuit is recommended year-round.
The beaches, reefs, and points are exposed to a wide range of swells and wild winds from all directions. Surfing is done mostly alone here, although the region boasts around 50 surfers.
Occasionally, the wind blows in a direction that is well-suited for surfing. The slab/point wave in the photo above breaks on a variety of sizes, and is accessible by a narrow farm road.
As long as winds are favorable, the coldest days can be some of the best.
Jan Mayen
Jan Mayen is long in shape. The main mass of the island is a mountain, and a pinched spit of land extends outward from it toward the south west. It peaks out at the fringe of the Norwegian Sea, located between Iceland, Norway, Faroe Islands, and Greenland.
Jan Mayen is south of the Svalbard islands, which have previously been surfed. It features rocky headlands and long sandy beaches, and interacts with the same swells as its neighbors. There are no permanent citizens or exploitable natural resources, although now there is a radio station.
Arctic Surf Camps Rise, Exploration At Risk?
At long last, Arctic surf camps are open for business in Iceland, possibly fizzling the fire that fuels underground arctic surf exploration. The first surfer on the island dates back to around 1973. Early Icelandic surfers were aided in discovering their own surf breaks by easy access. A coastal road circumvents most of the island. Their surf break inheritance was at their fingertips.
Since then, a small community has sprung up around the chilly ocean excursion, and numerous magazine articles have documented destination surf trips. So, its no surprise that a camp now offers custom surf tours. But what does this mean for arctic surf exploration? The flame hasn’t fizzled yet. Perhaps its a prod to look deeper into the unknown.
