Bassas da India (2002) | Jan Mayen (2008) | |
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Airports | - | 1 (2007) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | - | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
Area | total: 0.2 sq km
land: 0.2 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 377 sq km
land: 377 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC |
Background | This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968. | 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 | tropical | arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog |
Coastline | 35.2 km | 124.1 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen |
Dependency status | possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion | 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 | claimed by Madagascar | 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: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m |
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | the flag of France is used | the flag of Norway is used |
Geographic coordinates | 21 30 S, 39 50 E | 71 00 N, 8 00 W |
Geography - note | the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano | 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% (all rock) (1998 est.) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
Legal system | the laws of France, where applicable, apply | the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply |
Location | Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique | Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland |
Map references | Africa | Arctic Region |
Maritime claims | exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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 France | defense is the responsibility of Norway |
Natural hazards | maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones | dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985 |
Natural resources | none | none |
Population | uninhabited (July 2002 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 | - |
Radio broadcast stations | - | AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (there is one radio and meteorological station) (1998) |
Terrain | volcanic rock | volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers |
Waterways | none | - |