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

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of Jan Mayen
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
This desolate, artic, 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; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985. It is the northernmost active volcano on earth.
   Geography    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
71 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Arctic Region
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 377 sq km
land: 377 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
124.1 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
none
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
   People    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
no indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station
   Government    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
the flag of Norway is used
   Economy    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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.
   Communications    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (there is one radio and meteorological station) (1998)
   Transportation    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
none; offshore anchorage only
   Military    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of Norway
   Transnational Issues    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


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