Naumov Island

Naumov Island is a small uninhabited island in Peter the Great Bay of the Sea of Japan, in Primorsky Krai, Russia. It belongs to the Empress Eugenie Archipelago and lies administratively within the Vladivostok city district. The island sits about 1.1 kilometers southeast of Popov Island and about 22 kilometers southwest of downtown Vladivostok.

History

Naumov Island was first described in 1886 by captain A. S. Stenin. It was named after captain of the 1st rank N. A. Naumov, who served as chief commander of the ports of the Eastern Ocean. Like many islands in Peter the Great Bay, the island remained little studied for a long time and served mainly as a navigation landmark for sailors passing along the southern coast of Primorye.

The Empress Eugenie Archipelago

Naumov Island is part of the Empress Eugenie Archipelago, which stretches from the Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula out toward the open sea. The archipelago includes large islands such as Russky, Popov, Rikord, Reyneke and Shkot, along with many smaller islets and rocks, including Yelena and Ushi islands. Naumov Island is one of the archipelago's small, uninhabited islands: it has no permanent infrastructure, its coastline is deeply indented, and the island itself is clearly visible from the water.

Getting there

There is no direct transport to Naumov Island: visitors reach it by transiting through Popov Island. From there, almost any kind of watercraft can make the crossing, including an inflatable boat, and the trip takes about 1-2 hours. The waters around the island are popular among people out for a day on the water, including kayakers, who treat the island as one stop on a route through the Empress Eugenie Archipelago.

Good to know

The island is uninhabited and has no regular transport link, so a trip should be planned in advance and relies on your own or a rented boat. Keep in mind the changeable weather of Peter the Great Bay: wind and swell can quickly complicate the crossing from Popov Island.