Franz Josef Land (also Franz Joseph Land or Francis Joseph`s Land). Franz Josef Land is an archipelago located in the far north of Russia. It is found in the Arctic Ocean north of Novaya Zemlya and east of Svalbard, and is administered by Arkhangelsk Oblast of Russia. Pictured: Russian soldiers of `Nagursdkaya` Russian Arctic military borderguard base in Franz Joseph Land. Alexandra Island, one of 191 ice-covered islands of Franz Joseph Land.