| Published on February 9, 2010 |
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Report
Jan Mayen
 Introduction
Background: 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 Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg volcano resumed activity in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985. It is the northernmost active volcano on earth.
Geography
Location: Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Geographic coordinates: 71 00 N, 8 00 W
Area:
total: 377 sq km
land: 377 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 124.1 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 4 nm
contiguous zone: 10 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate: arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Terrain: volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m
Natural resources: none
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land: 0 sq km
Natural hazards: dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985
Environment - current issues: NA
Geography - note: barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
People
Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station
Government
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
Legal system: the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
Economy
Economy - overview: Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources, although surrounding waters contain substantnial fish stocks and potential untapped petroleum resouces. Economic activity is limited to providing services for employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations on the island.
Communications
Radio broadcast stations: NA; note - there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)
Transportation
Airports: 1 (2009)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)
Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only
Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
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