Skip to content. | Skip to navigation

 
Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence
World Factbook Title
navigation arrows
View Text Low Bandwidth Version Download Publication
Europe :: Jan Mayen
(territory of Norway)
page last updated on June 20, 2012
Flag of Jan Mayen
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Jan Mayen
Click flag or map to enlarge Opens in New Window
 
Map of Jan Mayen
Click map to enlarge Opens in New Window
Photos of Jan Mayen
 
Navigation Arrow view 1 photo Opens in New Window
of Jan Mayen
Expand All | collapse All
Introduction ::Jan Mayen
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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.
Back to Top
Geography ::Jan Mayen
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
71 00 N, 8 00 W
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 377 sq km
country comparison to the world: 205
land: 377 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
124.1 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
territorial sea: 4 nm
contiguous zone: 10 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 sq km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
barren volcanic island with some moss and grass
Back to Top
People ::Jan Mayen
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
no indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station
Back to Top
Government ::Jan Mayen
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
the flag of Norway is used
Back to Top
Economy ::Jan Mayen
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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.
Back to Top
Communications ::Jan Mayen
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
a coastal radio station has been remotely operated since 1994 (2008)
Back to Top
Transportation ::Jan Mayen
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 223
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2012)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none; offshore anchorage only
Back to Top
Military ::Jan Mayen
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
defense is the responsibility of Norway
Back to Top
Transnational Issues ::Jan Mayen
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
none
Back to Top
Expand All | collapse All
  The online Factbook is updated weekly. ISSN 1553-8133
For additional information on government leaders in selected foreign countries, go to World Leaders.