2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Airports
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) Jan Mayen Military
Area
total: 373 sq km land: 373 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
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 Beerenberg volcano resumed activity in 1970; it is the northernmost active volcano on earth. Jan Mayen Geography
Climate
arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Coastline
124.1 km
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
Disputes - international
none
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. Jan Mayen Communications
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Flag description
the flag of Norway is used Jan Mayen Economy
Geographic coordinates
71 00 N, 8 00 W
Geography - note
barren volcanic island with some moss and grass Jan Mayen People
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
13 (Jan Mayen and Svalbard) (2000) Jan Mayen Transportation
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1993)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100%
Legal system
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Location
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Map references
Arctic Region
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 10 NM continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 4 NM
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Norway Jan Mayen Transnational Issues
Natural hazards
dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970
Natural resources
none
Population
no indigenous inhabitants note: there are personnel who operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station (July 2001 est.) Jan Mayen Government
Ports and harbors
none; offshore anchorage only
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)
Terrain
volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
Waterways
none