Dikson

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Lore & Background

Dikson Island and its adjoining urban settlement have been named after Swedish Arctic pioneer Baron Oscar Dickson. In the 17th century the island was known as Dolgy ('long') island, or Kuzkin, after its Pomor discoverer. In 1875, the Finnish explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld renamed it after the wealthy Swedish merchant and philanthropist of Scottish origin Oskar Dickson. The name was soon Russified, by dropping the 'c'. Dikson has been the official name of the island since 1884. Oscar Dickson, along with Aleksandr Mikhaylovich Sibiryakov, had been the patron of a number of early Arctic expeditions, including Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld's Russian Arctic explorations. In 1915 the island became the site of the first Russian radio station in the Arctic. The seaport on the mainland was built in 1935, and in 1957 the two settlements were merged into one. During World War II the town was bombarded by the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer in August 1942 during Operation Wunderland. Dikson Island was one of the transfer destinations for 1949 March deportation from Latvia.

In Their Own Story

In August 1942, during Operation Wunderland, the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer bombarded the town. The seaport on the mainland had been built in 1935, and in 1957 the two settlements were merged into one. Earlier, in 1915, the island became the site of the first Russian radio station in the Arctic. The island was also one of the transfer destinations for the 1949 March deportation from Latvia.

Reader's Guide

Location: Island in Taymyrsky Dolgano-Nenetsky District, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, in the Kara Sea near the mouth of the Yenisei River. The urban-type settlement of Dikson is on the mainland across from the island. Climate: Arctic tundra (Köppen ET). The sun does not rise from about mid-November through early February, and does not set from the beginning of May until mid-August. February is the coldest month; August is the warmest month. Transport: Served by Dikson Airport. History: Named after Baron Oscar Dickson in 1875 by Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld; official name since 1884. First Russian Arctic radio station in 1915. Seaport built 1935. Merged settlements in 1957. Bombarded by Admiral Scheer in August 1942. Deportation destination in 1949.

Did You Know?

• Dikson Island was originally known as Dolgy ('long') island, or Kuzkin, after its Pomor discoverer in the 17th century.
• The island was renamed in 1875 by Finnish explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld after Swedish merchant Oskar Dickson, and the name was Russified by dropping the 'c'.
• In 1915, Dikson Island became the site of the first Russian radio station in the Arctic.
• During World War II, the town was bombarded by the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer in August 1942 during Operation Wunderland.
• Dikson Island was one of the transfer destinations for the 1949 March deportation from Latvia.