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  Jan Mayen
(territory of Norway)
 
Flag of Jan Mayen
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 Introduction
 Geography
 People
 Government
 Economy
 Communications
 Transportation
 Military
 Transnational Issues

This page was last updated on 14 May 2009


Map of Jan Mayen




Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order

   Introduction    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Background:
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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    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Geographic coordinates:
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71 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references:
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Arctic Region
Area:
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total: 377 sq km
land: 377 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
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slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
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0 km
Coastline:
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124.1 km
Maritime claims:
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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:
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arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Terrain:
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volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m
Natural resources:
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none
Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
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0 sq km
Natural hazards:
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dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985
Environment - current issues:
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NA
Geography - note:
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barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
   People    Jan Mayen Top of Page
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
   Government    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen
Dependency status:
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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:
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the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
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the flag of Norway is used
   Economy    Jan Mayen Top of Page
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 Top of Page
Radio broadcast stations:
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NA; note - there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)
   Transportation    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Airports:
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1 (2008)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2008)
Ports and terminals:
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none; offshore anchorage only
   Military    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of Norway
   Transnational Issues    Jan Mayen Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 14 May 2009


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