Administratively the range is part of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug of the Russian Federation.

[2][3] The range was named after the Shelags, a little-known ethnic group that lived on the Arctic coast to the east of Cape Shelagsky.

[5] This mountain chain runs in a roughly WNW/ESE direction for about 120 kilometres (75 mi), north of the Arctic Circle and parallel to the East Siberian Sea shore.

To the east the range is bound by the valley of the Keveyem (Кэвеем) river.

The highest point is 1,105 metres (3,625 ft) high Medvezhy Logovo peak.