Introduction
Background
This desolate, mountainous island in the Arctic Ocean 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 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.
Visit the Definitions and Notes page to view a description of each topic.
Geography
Location
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland
Geographic coordinates
71 00 N, 8 00 W
Map references
Arctic Region
Area - comparative
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
124.1 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
Climate
arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Terrain
volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers
Elevation
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen on Beerenberg 2,277
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
note: Beerenberg volcano has numerous peaks; the highest point on the volcano rim is named Haakon VII Toppen, after Norway's first king following the reestablishment of Norwegian independence in 1905
Land use
agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (2022)
Natural hazards
dominated by the volcano Beerenberg
volcanism: Beerenberg (2,227 m) is Norway's only active volcano; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985
Geography - note
barren volcanic spoon-shaped island with some moss and grass flora; island consists of two parts: a larger northeast Nord-Jan (the spoon "bowl") and the smaller Sor-Jan (the "handle"), linked by a 2.5 km-wide isthmus (the "stem") with two large lakes, Sorlaguna (South Lagoon) and Nordlaguna (North Lagoon)
People and Society
Population
total: no indigenous inhabitants
note: military personnel operate the the weather and coastal services radio station
Environment
Environment - current issues
pollutants transported from southerly latitudes by winds, ocean currents, and rivers accumulate in the food chains of native animals; climate change
Climate
arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog
Land use
agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
other: 100% (2018 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen
etymology: named after Dutch Captain Jan Jacobszoon MAY, one of the first explorers to reach the island in 1614
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; in 2010, Norway designated the majority of Jan Mayen as a nature reserve
Legal system
the laws of Norway apply where applicable
Flag description
the flag of Norway is used
Communications
Broadcast media
a coastal radio station has been remotely operated since 1994
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Norway