Europa Island (2006) | Jan Mayen (2008) | |
Airports | 1 (2006) | 1 (2007) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006) |
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
Area | total: 28 sq km
land: 28 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 377 sq km
land: 377 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC | slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC |
Background | A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station. | 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 | 22.2 km | 124.1 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Europa Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Europa |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen |
Dependency status | possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands | 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 24 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 | 22 20 S, 40 22 E | 71 00 N, 8 00 W |
Geography - note | wildlife sanctuary | barren volcanic island with some moss and grass |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km | 0 sq km |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (2005) |
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, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between southern Madagascar and southern Mozambique | Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland |
Map references | Africa | 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 France | defense is the responsibility of Norway |
Natural hazards | NA | dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985 |
Natural resources | NEGL | none |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2006 est.) |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station |
Radio broadcast stations | - | AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA (there is one radio and meteorological station) (1998) |
Terrain | low and flat | volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers |