ARCHIVE // SJ // 2005

Jan Mayen

2005 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA note: there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)
Economy
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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.
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 373 sq km land: 373 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Coastline [time series]
124.1 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
71 00 N, 8 00 W
Geography - note [time series]
barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001)
Location [time series]
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Map references [time series]
Arctic Region
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 4 nm contiguous zone: 10 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Natural hazards [time series]
dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970
Natural resources [time series]
none
Terrain [time series]
volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
Government
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Jan Mayen
Dependency status [time series]
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
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
the flag of Norway is used
Legal system [time series]
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Introduction
Background [time series]
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.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of Norway
People
Population [time series]
no indigenous inhabitants note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station (July 2005 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only