The only bit of accessible shoreline is at its northwestern point, where the cliffs have crumbled into piles of loose rocks and gravel.

Herald Island belongs administratively to the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug of the Russian Federation.

Cape Dmitrieva on Herald Island, marks the easternmost limits of the nature reserve.

For most of the year, the region is covered by masses of cold Arctic air with low moisture and dust content.

In 1881, the USRC Thomas Corwin under Calvin L. Hooper searched Herald Island for message cairns or other signs that might have been left by the Jeannette crew.

With the aid of John Muir's mountaineering skills, they were able to reach the top of the island and conduct a thorough search, as well as make geological and biological observations and collect specimens.

These four men, Sandy Anderson, Charles Barker, John Brady and Edmund L. Golightly, died there without leaving any record.

In 1926, the Soviet icebreaker Stavropol under Georgy Ushakov approached Herald Island, but was unable to come to shore because of thick sea ice.

[5] Some U.S. individuals, including the group State Department Watch,[6] assert American ownership of Herald Island based on the 1855 landing.

However, the United States government has never claimed Herald Island, and recognizes it as Russian territory.