Baker Island (2004) | Jan Mayen (2008) | |
Airports | 1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable (2003 est.) | 1 (2007) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | - | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
Area | total: 1.4 sq km
land: 1.4 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 377 sq km
land: 377 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC |
Background | The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast. | This desolate, artic, 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. |
Climate | equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun | arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog |
Coastline | 4.8 km | 124.1 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Baker Island |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen |
Dependency status | unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system | 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 |
Disputes - international | none | none |
Economy - overview | no economic activity | 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. |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 8 m |
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m |
Environment - current issues | no natural fresh water resources | NA |
Flag description | the flag of the US is used | the flag of Norway is used |
Geographic coordinates | 0 13 N, 176 31 W | 71 00 N, 8 00 W |
Geography - note | treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife | barren volcanic island with some moss and grass |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1998 est.) | 0 sq km |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
Legal system | the laws of the US, where applicable, apply | the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply |
Location | Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia | Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland |
Map references | Oceania | Arctic Region |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
territorial sea: 4 nm
contiguous zone: 10 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard | defense is the responsibility of Norway |
Natural hazards | the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard | dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985 |
Natural resources | guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife | none |
Population | uninhabited
note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service (2004 est.) |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast | - |
Radio broadcast stations | - | AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (there is one radio and meteorological station) (1998) |
Terrain | low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef | volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers |
Transportation - note | there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast | - |