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Background:
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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 |
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Location:
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Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland |
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Geographic coordinates:
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71 00 N, 8 00 W |
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Map references:
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Arctic Region |
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Area:
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total: 373 sq km
land: 373 sq km water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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124.1 km |
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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 |
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Climate:
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arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog |
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Terrain:
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volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m |
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Natural resources:
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none |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970 |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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barren volcanic island with some moss and grass |
| People | Jan Mayen |
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Population:
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no indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station (July 2005 est.) |
| Government | Jan Mayen |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen |
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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 |
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Legal system:
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the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply |
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Flag description:
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the flag of Norway is used |
| Economy | Jan Mayen |
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Economy - overview:
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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 |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: there is one radio and meteorological station (1998) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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13 (Jan Mayen and Svalbard) (2000) |
| Transportation | Jan Mayen |
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Ports and harbors:
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none; offshore anchorage only |
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Airports:
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1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
| Military | Jan Mayen |
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Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of Norway |
| Transnational Issues | Jan Mayen |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
Sources: The CIA World Fact Book and other public domain Internet sites
