|
|
|
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. |
|
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:
|
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/Beerenberg 2,277
m |
|
Natural resources:
|
none |
|
Land use:
|
arable
land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001) |
|
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 |
|
Population:
|
no
indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation
(Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services
radio station (July 2005 est.) |
|
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 - 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. |
|
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) |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
none;
offshore anchorage only |
|
Airports:
|
1 (2004
est.) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
|
Military - note:
|
defense
is the responsibility of Norway |
|
Disputes - international:
|
none |
|
This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
|
|
| |
|
|
