![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
| |
|
|
Jan Mayen:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
Background |
Definition 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. |
| |
Location |
Definition Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland |
Geographic coordinates |
Definition 71 00 N, 8 00 W |
Map references |
Definition Arctic Region |
Area |
Definition - World rank and map total: 377 sq km land: 377 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative |
Definition slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC |
Land boundaries |
Definition 0 km |
Coastline |
Definition 124.1 km |
Maritime claims |
Definition territorial sea: 4 nm contiguous zone: 10 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
Climate |
Definition arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog |
Terrain |
Definition volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers |
Elevation extremes |
Definition lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m |
Natural resources |
Definition none |
Land use |
Definition - World rank and map arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
Definition 0 sq km |
Natural hazards |
Definition dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985 |
Environment - current issues |
Definition NA |
Geography - note |
Definition barren volcanic island with some moss and grass |
|
Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |