The island is essentially a long series of low basalt cliffs measuring 6 kilometers (3.7 mi) from east to west, connected by sand bars.

Its highest points, both unnamed, stand at its west and east ends, both reaching an elevation of 56 meters (184 ft) above sea level.

The Bastian Islands were discovered in 1867 by the Swedish-Norwegian polar explorer Nils Fredrik Rønnbeck, who was the first to sail around Spitsbergen.

Most of the Bastian Islands were named during the First German North Polar Expedition in 1868, led by Carl Koldewey.

One might assume the physical shape of the island to be the origin of its name (from Norwegian lang 'long'); however, the island is in fact named after Henry Lange, a German cartographer and publisher of many maps and an atlas.