The Kara Sea is separated from the Barents Sea to the west by the Kara Strait and Novaya Zemlya , and the Laptev Sea to the east by the Severnaya Zemlya . It is separated from the Barents Sea to the west by the Kara Strait and Novaya Zemlya , and the Laptev Sea to the east by the Severnaya Zemlya .