Jan Mayen
Jan Mayen as the 2012 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 30 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.
No fields match. Try a shorter word.
Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
17 fieldsLand useshare of 377 sq km
Note
Location
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Natural hazards
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
People and Society
1 fieldPopulation
no indigenous inhabitants note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station
Government
4 fieldsDependency 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
Economy
Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources, although surrounding waters contain substantial fish stocks and potential untapped petroleum resources.
1 fieldEconomy - overview
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.
Communications
1 fieldTransportation
3 fieldsMilitary
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Jan Mayen.” The World Factbook 2012. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/jan-mayen/2012.