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  Jan Mayen  
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  Introduction
  Geography
  People
  Government
  Economy
  Communications
  Transportation
  Military
  Transnational Issues

In general, information available as of 1 January, 2004
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2004.


This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004


Map of Jan Mayen

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Jan Mayen
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
71 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Arctic Region
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 373 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 373 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
124.1 km
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 4 NM
contiguous zone: 10 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
none
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
   People    Jan Mayen
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
no indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station (July 2004 est.)
   Government    Jan Mayen
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
the flag of Norway is used
   Economy    Jan Mayen
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)
   Transportation    Jan Mayen
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
none; offshore anchorage only
Airports:
Definition Field Listing
1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2003 est.)
   Military    Jan Mayen
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of Norway
   Transnational Issues    Jan Mayen
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004


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