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Exchange Rate Home >> Country Info >> Jan Mayen

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

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 Back To Top

Land boundaries:
0 km

Climate:
arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog

Map references:
Arctic Region

Geographic coordinates:
71 00 N, 8 00 W

Natural resources:
none

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m

Terrain:
volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers

Geography - note:
barren volcanic island with some moss and grass

Area:
total: 377 sq km
land: 377 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Location:
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland

Coastline:
124.1 km

Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

Environment - current issues:
NA

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

Natural hazards:
dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

  People Back To Top

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station

  Government Back To Top

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

Country name (Goverment):
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen

  Economy Back To Top

Economy - overview:
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 Back To Top

Radio broadcast stations:
NA; note - there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
13 (Jan Mayen and Svalbard) (2000)

  Transportation Back To Top

Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Airports:
1 (2007)

  Military Back To Top

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Norway

  Transnational Issues Back To Top

Disputes - international:
none

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