Jan Mayen

Introduction ::Jan Mayen

Background:

This desolate, arctic, mountainous island was named after a Dutch whaling captain who indisputably discovered it in 1614 (earlier claims are inconclusive). Visited only occasionally by seal hunters and trappers over the following centuries, the island came under Norwegian sovereignty in 1929. The long dormant Beerenberg volcano, the northernmost active volcano on earth, resumed activity in 1970 and the most recent eruption occurred in 1985.

Geography ::Jan Mayen

Location:

Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland

Geographic coordinates:

71 00 N, 8 00 W

Area:

total: 377 sq km

country comparison to the world: 205

land: 377 sq km

water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

124.1 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 4 nm

contiguous zone: 10 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog

Terrain:

volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m

highest point: Haakon VII Toppen on Beerenberg 2,277 m

note: Beerenberg volcano has numerous peaks; the highest point on the volcano rim is named Haakon VII Toppen, after Norway's first king following the reestablishment of Norwegian independence in 1905

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 100% (2011)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (2011)

Natural hazards:

dominated by the volcano Beerenberg

volcanism: Beerenberg (elev. 2,227 m) is Norway's only active volcano; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

barren volcanic island with some moss and grass

People and Society ::Jan Mayen

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants

note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station

Government ::Jan Mayen

Country name:

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Jan Mayen

Dependency status:

territory of Norway; since August 1994, administered from Oslo through the county governor (fylkesmann) of Nordland; however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service

Legal system:

the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of Norway is used

Economy ::Jan Mayen

Economy - overview:

Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources, although surrounding waters contain substantial fish stocks and potential untapped petroleum resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services for employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations on the island.

Communications ::Jan Mayen

Broadcast media:

a coastal radio station has been remotely operated since 1994 (2008)

Transportation ::Jan Mayen

Airports:

1 (2013)

country comparison to the world: 222

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military ::Jan Mayen

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Norway

Transnational Issues ::Jan Mayen

Disputes - international:

none"