Severny Island is the northern island of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, lying approx 400 km north of the Russian mainland. It has an area of , making it the 30th largest island in the world. It is separated from Yuzhny Island (Southern) by the narrow Matochkin Strait. 40% of the island is covered by the Severny Island ice cap which is the largest glacier by area and by volume in Europe (if counted as part of it). Severny Island is known for its numerous glaciers.