What was behind the selection of Novaya Zemlya though?
– Maximum distance to large population centers, capability of testing nuclear weapons in different environments, possibility of thorough research of nuclear weapons effect on all types of military equipment were considered during selection of the site for future range. Meanwhile, land amortization for the range should not make noticeable negative effect on economic activity of the region even in the distant future. The selection of the range site at islands of Novaya Zemlya archipelago had entirely complied with those requirements. The distance of test sites from large population centers were hundreds of kilometers (Amderma 300 km, Naryan-Mar 440 km, Vorkuta 560 km, Murmansk 900 km, Arkhangelsk 1 000 km). The size of the range was also enormous 90 200 square km! On July 31, 1954 the government made a decision to build a range at Novaya Zemlya. But it is customary to celebrate its birthday on September 17, when staff schedule of new military unit was approved by the directive of Navy Ma
