ARCHIVE // SJ // 2012

Jan Mayen

2012 Edition — territory

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
a coastal radio station has been remotely operated since 1994 (2008)
Economy
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources, although surrounding waters contain substantial fish stocks and potential untapped petroleum 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: 377 sq km country comparison to the world: 205 land: 377 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 on Beerenberg 2,277 m note: Beerenberg volcano has numerous peaks; the highest point on the volcano rim is named Haakon VII Toppen, after Norway's first king following the reestablishment of Norwegian independence in 1905
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
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Location [time series]
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Map references [time series]
Europe
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 Beerenberg volcanism: Beerenberg (elev. 2,227 m) is Norway's only active volcano; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985
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, arctic, 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, the northernmost active volcano on earth, resumed activity in 1970 and the most recent eruption occurred in 1985.
Military
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of Norway
People and Society
Population [time series]
no indigenous inhabitants note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2012) country comparison to the world: 237
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only