For the first time, the famous scientist V. A. Obruchev back in 1926. Since then, scientists have no more reliable data about this mysterious northern territory. Dozens of scientific articles have been written about the mysterious, still not discovered "Sannikov Land", many hypotheses have been put forward, none of which could explain what this land is, or even its exact location.
There are several known geographic features located in the northern regions named by this name. It is a strait, river, mountain and land. But the latter object cannot be found on a modern map. A mysterious place, about which a lot has been written, but there is no evidence that at least one person managed to visit there. The novel of the same name by the famous scientist V. A. Obruchev, published in 1926, tells the reader a fantastic story of the discovery of this Earth. This could happen, but in reality it did not happen. But the work is based on the descriptions of many researchers, including the long-term results of the study of the author himself.
The area in question was noted at the beginning of the 19th century in the Arctic region, an area covering the Arctic Ocean and a number of adjacent islands. In those days, the study of new areas was associated with the need to expand the fishing area. On the newly discovered lands, huge reserves of furs and mammoth bone deposits were discovered. The industrialist-researcher Yakov Sannikov was also engaged in the search for such “fossil treasures”. Being on the territory of one of the northern islands, he clearly saw the land several tens of kilometers away. Sannikov's vast experience and knowledge gave full confidence that this was not a mirage. And many local residents also described this picture. But the expeditions that went on campaigns in different years under the leadership of P. F. Anjou, Baron de Toll, Admiral Kolchak could not prove the existence of this land. Some simply did not see it, taking what Sannikov himself described as vague visions, while others, devoting many years to the search, could not achieve it. The traces of the expeditions were lost without a trace, just as the mysterious Sannikov Land disappeared from the horizon.
This happened with the journey of Baron E. V. Toll. For a long time, the baron's expeditions were associated with warm regions, where he studied flora and fauna. Interest in Siberia woke up much later. Once on the first Siberian expedition, he could only catch a secret vision of Sannikov Land, but there was no opportunity to move in the direction of the new find at that time, he had to return to St. Petersburg.
Being engaged in scientific work, the thought of unknown shores did not leave him. And in 1901 the Norwegian schooner "Zarya", led by the baron, set out to explore the mysterious territory that Toll had seen many years ago. Constant and very dense fog strengthened the Baron in the idea that this was the reason why Sannikov's Land was so difficult to detect, it simply could not be noticed. The state of the ice made it impossible to move around on the ship, and Toll and three comrades decided to independently reach the intended goal. When, after a while, the crew that remained on board tried to find them, only things and entries in de Tolle's own diary were found. No one ever saw them again and did not know whether these four managed to set foot on the cherished land.
The towering mountains of the mysterious continent were highlighted by many eyewitnesses. The visual perception of the existence of this island is complemented by supporting facts. Observers noted an unusual feature. The birds did not fly south, but north, closer to the North Pole. And the members of the expeditions claimed that the closer they approached the North Pole, the warmer the climate became. Birds cannot fly to wintering in areas with a harsh climate. After wintering, they returned back with their chicks. This fact proved the existence of the mainland in the designated places.
Researchers assumed that Sannikov Land could be a pile of hummocks, but this theory was easily refuted. Throughout the 19th century, Sannikov Land was observed constantly, without being able to get to it. Blocks of ice could not withstand such an amount of time, they are characterized by constant movement, which can occur every few years and more often, but they cannot withstand almost a century.
Time passed, and in the 20th century, interest in Sannikov Land only grew. What kind of place is this that does not allow you to enter its domain? Studies carried out at the beginning of the 20th century led to conclusions that refute the existence of Sannikov Land during the period under study. The land, which has been seen by so many people for almost a century, has left no traces of its existence. It is as if it never existed. But some scientists adhere to a different version: probably once there was a continent, the territory of which covered the region of the North Pole and nearby islands, including the area that was called Sannikov Land.
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Scientists suggest that Sannikov Land was part of the zone of the most ancient northern continent of Arctida. This continent supposedly existed during the Ice Age. He towered over the eternal ice.
With the development of air transport, it has become much easier to explore the circumpolar zones. But even from a bird's eye view, the mysterious land was not visible. Scientists said that now such a land does not exist, but perhaps once it still existed. The northern regions are characterized by a special geological structure. There is ice and water under the ground. With any external factors capable of damaging the ice cover, water can flood a section of the continent, completely submerging it under the ice. Perhaps this is what happened to the mysterious land. And maybe someday submariners will search for the foggy land. And who knows, perhaps they will be able to prove to the whole world that Sannikov Land existed. In the meantime, you can fantasize and read the novel of the same name.