2005 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2005 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Airports
1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
- total
- 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) Military Jan Mayen
Area
- land
- 373 sq km
- total
- 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 Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg volcano resumed activity in 1970; it is the northernmost active volcano on earth. Geography Jan Mayen
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; 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
Disputes - international
none This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================
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. Communications Jan Mayen
Elevation extremes
- highest point
- Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m
- lowest point
- Norwegian Sea 0 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Flag description
the flag of Norway is used Economy Jan Mayen
Geographic coordinates
71 00 N, 8 00 W
Geography - note
barren volcanic island with some moss and grass People Jan Mayen
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
13 (Jan Mayen and Svalbard) (2000) Transportation Jan Mayen
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- arable land
- 0%
- other
- 100% (2001)
- permanent crops
- 0%
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 Transnational Issues Jan Mayen
Natural hazards
dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970
Natural resources
none
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.) Government Jan Mayen
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