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Jan Mayen

2018 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 | 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 [time series]
0 m lowest point: Norwegian Sea | 2277 highest point: Haakon VII Toppen on Beerenberg 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]
pollutants transported from southerly latitudes by winds, ocean currents, and rivers accumulate in the food chains of native animals; climate change
Geographic coordinates [time series]
71 00 N, 8 00 W
Geography - note [time series]
barren volcanic spoon-shaped island with some moss and grass flora; island consists of two parts: a larger northeast Nord-Jan (the spoon "bowl") and the smaller Sor-Jan (the "handle"), linked by a 2.5 km-wide isthmus (the "stem") with two large lakes, Sorlaguna (South Lagoon) and Nordlaguna (North Lagoon)
Irrigated land [time series]
0 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) | arable land: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.) | forest: 0% (2011 est.) | other: 100% (2011 est.)
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: 12 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Natural hazards [time series]
dominated by the volcano Beerenberg volcanism: Beerenberg (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 | etymology: named after Dutch Captain Jan Jacobszoon MAY, one of the first explorers to reach the island in 1614
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; in 2010 Norway designated the majority of Jan Mayen as a nature reserve
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 and Security
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of Norway
People and Society
Population [time series]
no indigenous inhabitants | note: military personnel operate the the weather and coastal services radio station
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]
total: 1 (2013) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only