1993 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1993 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total area: 373 km2 land area: 373 km2 comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Climate
arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Coastline
124.1 km
Environment
barren volcanic island with some moss and grass; volcanic activity resumed in 1970
International disputes
Denmark has challenged Norway's maritime claims between Greenland and Jan Mayen
Irrigated land
0 km2
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Location
in the North Atlantic Ocean, north of the Arctic Circle about 590 km north-northeast of Iceland, between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea
Map references
Arctic Region
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 10 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 4 nm
Natural resources
none
Terrain
volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers; Beerenberg is the highest peak, with an elevation of 2,277 meters
People and Society
Population
no permanent inhabitants; note - there are personnel who man the LORAN C base and the weather and coastal services radio station
Government
Capital
none; administered from Oslo, Norway, through a governor (sysselmann) resident in Longyearbyen (Svalbard)
Digraph
JN
Independence
none (territory of Norway)
Names
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jan Mayen
Type
territory of Norway
Economy
Electricity
15,000 kW capacity; 40 million kWh produced, NA kWh per capita (1992)
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
Airports
total: 1 useable: 1 with permanent-surface runways: with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1
Ports
none; offshore anchorage only
Telecommunications
radio and meteorological station
Military and Security
Note
defense is the responsibility of Norway