| Jan Mayen (territory of Norway) |
Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Jan Mayen | Introduction | Top of Page

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 Beerenberg volcano resumed activity in 1970; it is the northernmost active volcano on earth.

Jan Mayen | Geography | Top of Page

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

Geographic coordinates: | 71 00 N, 8 00 W

Map references: | Arctic Region

Area: | total: 373 sq km land: 373 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: | contiguous zone: 10 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 4 NM

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/Beerenberg 2,277 m

Natural resources: | none

Land use: | arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Irrigated land: | 0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards: | dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970

Environment - current issues: | NA

Geography - note: | barren volcanic island with some moss and grass

Jan Mayen | People | Top of Page

Population: | no indigenous inhabitants note: there are personnel who operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station (July 2001 est.)

Jan Mayen | Government | Top of Page

Country name: | conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jan Mayen

Dependency status: | territory of Norway; administered from Oslo through a governor (sysselmann) resident in Longyearbyen (Svalbard); 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

Jan Mayen | Economy | Top of Page

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 located on the island.

Jan Mayen | Communications | Top of Page

Radio broadcast stations: | AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 13 (Jan Mayen and Svalbard) (2000)

Jan Mayen | Transportation | Top of Page

Waterways: | none

Ports and harbors: | none; offshore anchorage only

Airports: | 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Jan Mayen | Military | Top of Page

Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of Norway

Jan Mayen | Transnational Issues | Top of Page

Disputes - international: | none