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Jan Mayen
Europe:: Jan Mayen
(territory of Norway)
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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.
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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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Europe
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Area:
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total: 377
sq km
03
land:
377 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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Current Weather
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% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Economy - overview:
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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.
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| Communications
::Jan Mayen |
Radio broadcast stations:
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NA; note - there is one radio and
meteorological station (1998)
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| Transportation
::Jan Mayen |
Airports:
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1 (2009)
24
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2009)
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Ports and terminals:
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none; offshore anchorage
only
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Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of
Norway
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| Transnational Issues
::Jan Mayen |
Disputes - international:
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none
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