Introduction

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 resumed activity in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985. It is the northernmost active volcano on earth.
`

Geography

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: |  |
`Europe`
Area: |  |
`total: 377 sq km country comparison to the world: 203 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% (2005)`
Irrigated land: |  |
`0 sq km`
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

Population: |  |
`no indigenous inhabitants note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station`

Government

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

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

Broadcast media: |  |
`a coastal radio station has been remotely operated since 1994 (2008)`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`1 (2010) country comparison to the world: 222`
Airports - with unpaved runways: |  |
`total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`none; offshore anchorage only`

Military

Military - note: |  |
`defense is the responsibility of Norway`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`none`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 25, 2011