Jan Mayen
Introduction Jan Mayen
----------------------
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.
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
Map references: Arctic Region
Area: total: 373 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 373 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
territorial sea: 4 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 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%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)
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
People Jan Mayen
----------------
Population: no indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long
Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and
the weather and coastal services
radio station (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate: NA
Government Jan Mayen
--------------------
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
Economy Jan Mayen
-----------------
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.
Communications Jan Mayen
------------------------
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)
Transportation Jan Mayen
------------------------
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: none; offshore anchorage only
Airports: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)
Military Jan Mayen
------------------
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of
Norway
Transnational Issues Jan Mayen
------------------------------
Disputes - international: none
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