A nearby urban-type settlement of Dikson, which functions as a port and hydrometeorological centre, is located on the mainland across from the island.

Dikson Island and its adjoining urban settlement have been named after Swedish Arctic pioneer Baron Oscar Dickson.

[1] In 1875, the Finnish explorer Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld renamed it after the wealthy Swedish merchant and philanthropist of Scottish origin Oskar Dickson.

[1] During World War II the town was bombarded by the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer in August 1942 during Operation Wunderland.

In between, there is a "spring" during which the amount of daylight steadily increases, and an "autumn" during which the amount of daylight steadily decreases — but due to the "seasonal lag" factor, February is actually the coldest month, while August is the warmest month.