Nova Zembla

1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri.

New-Zemble, a large Country of Europe, almost joyning Northern Muscovy, from which it's parted by Vaits-Streight, called also the Streight of Nassaw. This Country is generally thought to be an Island, though modern Writers, from the Relations of Mariners, rather suppose it a part of Great Tartary, to which they believe it joins on the East. In 1553. Sir Hugh Willoughby discovered Cape-Zemble, but he and all his Company were frozen to Death in Lapland. In 1596. some Dutch being shipwrack'd built themselves a Hut, and winter'd in it, but saw no Sun for two Months and twenty days, and next year they returned to Lapland in a Boat. No Inhabitants were ever discovered in this Country, though Finmark in the same Parallel is inhabited.