[1] Victoria Island has a surface area of 10.8 km2 (4.2 sq mi) and was formerly almost completely covered by an ice cap where the highest point reached 105 m (344 ft) above sea level.

Since then the ice cover has retreated and has remained a narrow strip of unglaciated shore stretching along the northwestern side.

Although Victoria Island is situated only less than 32 nautical miles (59 km; 37 mi) off Kvitøya in the Svalbard archipelago, it lies east of the territories put under the sovereignty of Norway according to the Spitsbergen Treaty in 1920.

Norway did not officially contest the Soviet annexation of Franz Josef Land itself but continued their efforts regarding Victoria Island and a new attempt was made the following year.

The true purpose of the Bratvaag Expedition was however kept secret, and Norway never officially claimed the island later, probably due to fear of upsetting the Soviet Union.