Conquering the Arctic: the true Odyssey of Georgy Ushakov on Wrangel Island (1926–1929)

This is the story of one man who took on the impossible—and won.
In the frozen desert of the Arctic, where icy storms rage and nature itself wages war on anyone who dares enter its realm, Georgy Ushakov began his battle. Not for glory, not for gold, but for knowledge, for his country, for his people—and to erase the last white spots from the map.

In 1926, a daunting task was entrusted to a 33-year-old geographer and explorer: to establish Soviet authority on Wrangel Island—an isolated ice fortress in the middle of the Chukchi Sea, a place once ruled only by mirages, polar bears, and the ghosts of myths.

The Island of legend—and the call of destiny

Ushakov’s choice of this mysterious Arctic land was no accident. It all began with a book—an account of Baron Ferdinand Wrangel’s expedition, gifted to him by the famed explorer Vladimir Arsenyev. That book became more than just an inspiration; it was his guiding star. Wrangel Island called to him like an unwritten chapter of history—and Ushakov was ready to write it with his own life.

Before Ushakov’s expedition, Wrangel Island was practically terra nullius—no man’s land. Canada, the U.S., and even Norway had their eyes on it. The Soviet government had to make one thing clear: the island was ours.

Three months to prepare. One shot at success.

The expedition had to be prepared under extreme pressure, with no time and few resources. Ushakov had to find a ship, equipment, a team, and even food—all on his own. In Khabarovsk and Vladivostok, there was nothing. The answer? Shanghai. Yes, in China, with help from the Soviet mission, Ushakov bought warm clothing, gear, and scientific instruments. All of it was delivered to Provideniya Bay, where the steamship Stavropol was scheduled to arrive.

Out of funds, Ushakov used his own money to buy scientific literature and sent letters to the Academy of Sciences, begging for rare atlases and textbooks. All for the sake of science—amidst the ice.

People moved by faith

To populate the island, Ushakov needed to persuade people to risk everything. And he did. The team included hunters, surveyors, women, children—even his own wife. With help from local teachers and an Eskimo named Ierok, Ushakov convinced seven Eskimo families to move to the island. And so began a new life. The team counted 59 people in total.

On August 8, 1926, under favorable ice conditions, Stavropol reached the southern coast of Wrangel Island. A new settlement was founded in Rogers Bay—forever changing the island’s fate.

A winter to freeze the blood

The first year unfolded like a true Arctic drama. The enemy wasn’t just the cold—it was fear, superstition, and hunger. The Eskimos refused to leave the safety of the settlement, fearing that evil spirits would strike them down if they ventured out. People began dying of scurvy, the food supply dwindled, and no one was willing to hunt.

During one trip, Ushakov and Ierok fell through the ice. Drenched and freezing, they trudged 70 kilometers back to the settlement. Ierok, an elderly hunter, didn’t survive. Ushakov was struck with pneumonia and kidney inflammation and became bedridden.

Things reached a breaking point—the Eskimos decided to leave the island. They saw Ushakov’s illness as proof that the spirits no longer feared him. To restore their faith in the Soviet leader, Ushakov made a desperate decision: despite his illness, he went hunting alone. He believed in himself—and in luck.

He killed a polar bear, sliced off a chunk of meat, tied himself to a sled, and let the dogs follow the old trail. He was returned to the settlement unconscious. The rest of the carcass was brought in by Pavlov and the Eskimos. The people now had meat—but more importantly, they had hope. They saw that even sickness couldn’t break their leader. Their fear vanished. Fur hunting began. The economy was born.

The expedition didn’t just survive—it prospered

Polar bear hides, arctic fox pelts, mammoth bones, walrus tusks—all were traded for weapons, gear, and food. The Arctic began to pay its debt.

A scientific mission: from blank space to map

Even in total isolation, without a radio, Ushakov continued his scientific work. He collected specimens of plants, minerals, and animals, and conducted meteorological observations. In 1927, a year into the mission, two planes arrived—led by pilot Krasinsky. This was the first aerial connection with Wrangel Island in history. Krasinsky was so impressed by what he saw that he extended the expedition for another year.

In the spring of 1928, Ushakov made his greatest geographic achievement: over 42 days, he circumnavigated the entire island by dog sled, conducting detailed geodetic surveys. This resulted in the first accurate map of Wrangel Island.

During the survey, Ushakov discovered traces of ancient human camps—charcoal remains and stone tools. He was the first to suggest that the island had been inhabited in prehistoric times.

A man among his people

Three years on the island brought Ushakov close to the Eskimos. He learned their language, adopted their hunting techniques, mastered dog sledding, observed animal behavior, and even learned how to treat ailments with native remedies. They called him “our white chief,” saying,

“The boss does everything like a real Eskimo.”

The triumphant return

In the spring of 1929, the icebreaker F. Litke arrived with a new overwintering team. Ushakov, his mission complete, handed over the island—settled, studied, and secured. He had done it all: the settlement thrived, the map was drawn, science had advanced. Only one thing cast a shadow on the triumph—saying goodbye to the friends he left behind.

Today, on the shores of Wrangel Island, stands a solemn monument bearing the bas-relief of the brave polar explorer. The inscription reads:
“The First Chief of Wrangel Island. 1926–1929.”

Legacy

Wrangel Island is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a pristine nature reserve, still home to some of the rarest species on Earth: polar bears, Arctic foxes, countless seabirds, and—astonishingly—the remains of the last woolly mammoths, which survived here until just 4,000 years ago.

Ushakov’s expedition is not just a story of Arctic exploration. It is a symbol of willpower, leadership, and devotion to a cause.
Where others saw only ice and death, he saw possibility.
And he proved that a man can conquer even the Arctic—if he believes in himself.