Wrangel Island is a remote and isolated part of the Arctic, located far from populated areas and global shipping routes. For much of the year, it remains covered in snow and ice, with long periods of darkness during the polar winter. Although it may seem distant and unimportant at first glance, the island has started to receive growing attention from governments, scientists, and environmental organizations. This renewed interest comes from two main concerns: Wrangel Island is home to a rich and fragile ecosystem, and it is becoming increasingly significant in the context of rising geopolitical tensions in the Arctic.
In recent years, officials and commentators in the United States have raised the idea that the country might have a historical claim to Wrangel Island. At the same time, Russia has increased its military presence on and around the island, developing new facilities and strengthening its position. These moves have sparked concern about rising tensions between the two countries in the Arctic. But Wrangel Island is not just a strategic point on the map. It is an ecologically rich area, home to rare species and unique Arctic habitats, with a complex political and historical background.
Where Is Wrangel Island and Why Does It Matter?
Wrangel Island is located in the Arctic Ocean, between the Chukchi Sea and the East Siberian Sea. It is part of Russia’s Chukotka region and covers about 7,600 square kilometres. The island is surrounded by ice for much of the year, although that ice is melting more quickly due to climate change.
What makes Wrangel Island special is that it was never covered by glaciers during the Ice Age. Because of this, its plants and animals have had thousands of years to grow and evolve without major interruptions. Scientists say it is like a “living museum” of Arctic life. For example, the island has over 400 types of flowering plants, and 23 of them are found nowhere else in the world.
The island is also important for wildlife. Large groups of Pacific walruses gather on its beaches. It has more polar bear maternity dens than anywhere else on Earth. Snow geese, which were once in danger of disappearing, breed here in large numbers. Migratory birds from around the world come to Wrangel Island every year. Even gray whales travel thousands of kilometres from Mexico to feed near its shores.
A Protected Area with Global Recognition
To protect this fragile environment, the Soviet Union declared Wrangel Island a nature reserve in 1976. Later, in 2004, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This recognition means the island is seen as valuable to all of humanity, not just one country.
Because of its special status, only scientists and small groups of tourists can visit the island. There are no permanent towns or cities there. Two small villages that once existed during Soviet times were shut down in the 1990s after people moved away.
But even though Wrangel is remote, it is not safe from modern threats. The warming of the Arctic is opening new shipping routes near the island. More ships could mean more pollution, more noise, and more problems for wildlife. Russian leaders have even suggested loosening environmental rules so that military training could take place on the island. These developments worry both scientists and environmentalists.
Who Owns Wrangel Island? A Look at the Past
The question of who owns Wrangel Island is not new. In 1881, a U.S. Navy officer named Captain Calvin Hooper visited the island, raised the American flag, and claimed it for the United States. Some U.S. scholars argue that this created a possible American claim based on old rules of discovery.
In 1921, a Canadian explorer named Vilhjalmur Stefansson tried to settle the island under the British flag. His mission failed due to starvation and harsh conditions. Neither Britain nor the U.S. ever formally took control.
Russia moved faster and more decisively. In 1916, Tsar Nicholas II claimed Wrangel Island for Russia. In 1924, Soviet troops landed on the island and removed the last foreign settlers. Two years later, the island was officially added to the Soviet Union. After the United States bought Alaska from Russia in 1867, Wrangel Island was not included in the deal.
Since then, both Republican and Democratic governments in the U.S. have clearly said that the country has no claim to the island. In 2003, the U.S. State Department said there was no reason to reopen the issue, and that the U.S. recognizes Russian control.
Why Are Some People Still Talking About a U.S. Claim?
Even though the legal matter seems settled, some people in the U.S. still bring up the idea of an “American claim.” In the 1980s, a small group lobbied Congress to question Soviet control. In recent years, articles have appeared in the media claiming that Russia is building military bases “on American land.”
Experts have responded to these claims. Researcher Lukas Wahden showed that the Russian buildings on Wrangel Island are not new. Instead, they are part of an older border post that was expanded after 2014. Under international law, a country must continuously and peacefully manage a territory to maintain ownership. The U.S. has never done this with Wrangel.
Russia’s Military Plans in the Arctic
While a U.S. claim is baseless, Russia’s military activity on and around Wrangel Island is real. Starting in the mid-2010s Moscow launched a sweeping plan to reinforce its Arctic frontier. By 2015 it aimed to finish military “towns” on Wrangel and Cape Schmidt, complete with combat-duty positions and life-support systems. In 2017 the Defense Ministry announced over 100 new military and support buildings across the Arctic, including nearly thirty on Wrangel itself. By 2018 officials boasted that Russia had built the world’s most advanced Arctic infrastructure.
One important structure is the Sopka-2 radar, which was added in 2016. This radar can track airplanes and other objects from far away, even in snow and ice. These facilities are part of Russia’s plan to protect the Northern Sea Route, a shipping lane that becomes more valuable as sea ice melts. The island is also important because it is only about 300 miles from Alaska. Russia believes that controlling this area helps defend its national interests and trade routes.
Environmental Worries Grow
Not everyone sees these developments as progress. Environmental groups and international bodies like UNESCO have raised concerns about the impact of military activity. When fuel is spilled or trash is left behind, it can damage the fragile Arctic environment. Emissions from aircraft and construction machines can also harm animals and plants.
UNESCO has urged Russia to take extra care to avoid harming the island’s ecosystems. The Arctic is already warming nearly four times faster than the global average. Adding more human activity, especially military action, makes the situation even more dangerous.
Cooperation Over Conflict
Some people in the U.S. talk about Wrangel Island as a reason to get tougher on Russia in the Arctic. Others see it as a way to score political points. But this kind of talk may make things worse. Russian officials already say the U.S. is trying to block their access to Arctic shipping routes.
Instead of fighting over land, countries should focus on working together. International agreements like the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) can help keep peace in the Arctic. Groups like the Arctic Council bring together countries and Indigenous peoples to solve problems without conflict.
A Place Worth Protecting
Wrangel Island is not just a Russian outpost or a point on a map. It is a critical Arctic ecosystem, home to species found nowhere else. Its changing topography offers clear evidence of the climate crisis. Its location gives it strategic weight in global affairs. Protecting it is not just Russia’s responsibility—it’s a shared obligation. The question is no longer about ownership. It’s about who will take action to safeguard what remains.
[Photo by Анастасия Игоревна Петухова, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
The views and opinions expressed in the article are those of the author.
K.M. Seethi, Director, Inter University Centre for Social Science Research and Extension, is the Academic Advisor of the International Centre for Polar Studies at Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala. He also served as ICSSR Senior Fellow, Senior Professor and Dean of International Relations at MGU.
