SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(1 fields)
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)
◆ ECONOMY(1 fields)
Economy - overview
Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services for employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations on the island.
◆ GEOGRAPHY(17 fields)
Area
total: 377 sq km land: 377 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Climate
arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Coastline
124.1 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Geographic coordinates
71 00 N, 8 00 W
Geography - note
barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
Irrigated land
0 sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Location
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Map references
Arctic Region
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
Natural hazards
dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970
Natural resources
none
Terrain
volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
◆ GOVERNMENT(4 fields)
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
Flag description
the flag of Norway is used
Legal system
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
◆ INTRODUCTION(1 fields)
Background
This desolate, 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 Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg volcano resumed activity in 1970; it is the northernmost active volcano on earth.
◆ MILITARY(1 fields)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Norway
◆ PEOPLE(1 fields)
Population
no indigenous inhabitants note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station (July 2006 est.)
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(1 fields)
Disputes - international
none
◆ TRANSPORTATION(3 fields)
Airports
1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals
none; offshore anchorage only