Stoyan Vassev

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stoyanvassev.com

Matveev Island Walruses

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Walruses at the Matveev Island, Barents Sea. Russia.

Barents sea. View from the heli... Matveev Island is about 300km.

Barents sea. View from the helicopter. The distance between Naryan Mar and Matveev Island is about 300km.

In the 17th century, Matveev Is... come here to see the Walruses.

In the 17th century, Matveev Island was used for the needs of the army, to control the Mangazeisky Sea Route. In 1920s-30s the USSR government decides to colonize the little island, and put 2 Lighthouses there. (one left today) Nowadays the Island is popular spot for yachts and crusies. People come here to see the Walruses.

Primeraly male walruses come to...e come here in the late autumn.

Primeraly male walruses come to this rookery. Females with newborn babies sometime come here in the late autumn.

The sleep place of the scientists.

"Some people go to an ...out 300, today it goes up 2500.

"Some people go to an office every day, here is my office" Marina Samoilova - Leading Specialist of the Department of Environmental Education of the Nenets Reserve. Observation has been conducted since 2016, when the amount of walruses was about 300, today it goes up 2500.

In Russia Walrus Hunting was pr...the middle of the 20th Century.

In Russia Walrus Hunting was prohibited on the middle of the 20th Century.

Matveev Island, Barents Sea. Russia.

Walruses at the Matveev Island, Barents Sea. Russia.

These constructions were used for Walrus Hunting in the past.

Ariel view of the walrus rooker...numbers of walruses every year.

Ariel view of the walrus rookery. Marina says that satellite photos show encreasing numbers of walruses every year.

Walruses at the Matveev Island, Barents Sea. Russia.

"The sea can bring any...ch storm" Marina says.

"The sea can bring anything after each storm" Marina says.

Aerial view of the Matveev Island, Barents Sea. Russia.

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Thumbnail of Walruses at the Matveev Island, Barents Sea. Russia.

Thumbnail of Barents sea. View from the helic_d Matveev Island is about 300km.

Thumbnail of In the 17th century, Matveev Isl_e come here to see the Walruses.

Thumbnail of Primeraly male walruses come to _me come here in the late autumn.

Thumbnail of The sleep place of the scientists.

Thumbnail of "Some people go to an o_bout 300, today it goes up 2500.

Thumbnail of In Russia Walrus Hunting was pro_ the middle of the 20th Century.

Thumbnail of Matveev Island, Barents Sea. Russia.

Thumbnail of These constructions were used for Walrus Hunting in the past.

Thumbnail of Ariel view of the walrus rookery_ numbers of walruses every year.

Thumbnail of "The sea can bring anyt_ach storm" Marina says.

Thumbnail of Aerial view of the Matveev Island, Barents Sea. Russia.

Public Project

Matveev Island Walruses

Copyright Stoyan Vassev 2024

Updated Jan 2022

A small piece of land in the southeast of the Barents Sea, deserted in the late 1980s, has long been chosen by Atlantic walruses. Clumsy on land and graceful in the water, they are sensitive to any change in the purity of the marine ecosystem. Keeping track of their population and lifestyle is the main task of monitoring. Long-term observations in the area of the Gazpromneft Prirazlomnaya platform in the Barents Sea show that the number of these amazing animals, listed in the Red Book of Russia, is preserved.

Matveev Island, Russia, 2021.

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