[1] The area of the district is approximately 170,000 square kilometers (66,000 sq mi).

[2] Its administrative center is the urban locality (a work settlement) of Iskateley.

The district stretches for about 320 kilometers (200 mi) from north to south and for 950 kilometers (590 mi) from east to west: from Cape Bolvansky Nos in the north to the source of the Oma River in the south, and from Cape Kanin Nos in the west to the banks of the Kara River in the east.

[2] The outer boundary of Zapolyarny District is identical to that of Nenets Autonomous Okrug; therefore there is no economic sector of significance to the district that is not also of equal significance to the autonomous okrug.

The main economic drivers are oil and gas,[6] although reindeer husbandry is still seen as a core part of the culture of the indigenous Nenets people.