Russia is the largest country with a coastline on the Arctic Ocean.
Russia’s northern coast borders Arctic waters including the Barents, Kara, Laptev, East Siberian and Chukchi seas. The country’s Arctic coastline extends across northern Siberia and includes many islands in the Arctic archipelagos.
Russia’s Arctic region is strategically important because it contains energy resources, mineral deposits, ports and the Northern Sea Route. The route follows the northern coast of Russia and can connect the Atlantic and Pacific more directly than routes through the Suez Canal, although sea ice and weather remain major challenges.
Canada also has an enormous Arctic coastline and owns most of the Arctic Archipelago, but Russia is larger by total area. Greenland has extensive Arctic territory as well, but it is an autonomous territory of Denmark rather than a sovereign country.