CLIMATIC CONDITIONS OF KOLGUEV 



Saweljew, in the interesting paper to which I have already referred, 

 makes the following remarks about the climate of Kolguev : — 



' During the sixteen days which we spent at various spots on (or off) 

 the island in July and August, the thermometer never rose above 9 R., 

 and even this but once, at mid-day. Usually it stood at 4° or 5 , and 

 fell at times to 2°, or even to 1° R. ; while, before this, on Kanin (i.e. 

 on the mainland), a warmth of 10° to 12 prevailed, which, immediately 

 after our departure from Kanin, mounted (there) to 15 R. It is to be 

 remarked that the soil of this island . . . does not thaw in the course 

 of the year more than two feet deep. Further down all remains in a 

 frozen state — a thing which we have not found to occur either on the 

 Kanin peninsula or on the coast of Timan.' 



Of course this last remark refers to boggy ground. I was unfortunately 

 unable to test the conclusion. 



The Russians have a great dread of being compelled to pass the 

 winter on Kolguev. They told me that only one Russian to their 

 knowledge had ever done so. This man was Alexis' father, who post- 

 poned his departure till too late. He described the winter as terribly 

 severe ; and the Samoyeds all agreed in saying that it was far worse 

 than on the mainland. 



The average shade temperatures for the twenty-four hours during 

 June were, max. 40 F., min. 33° F., the thermometer twice falling to 

 31° F., and twice rising to 50° F. On June 24 it registered in the sun 

 at mid-day 62 ° F. The average for July was decidedly higher, though 

 more than once it fell to freezing-point. On August 28 my thermometer 

 was broken during a gale. But up to that date it varied from 42° F. at 

 noon to 7 6° F. This, the highest reading, was on August 16, and on 

 this day it was 86° F. in the sun. The thermometer never fell below 



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