Jan Mayen (2005) | Coral Sea Islands (2008) | |
Airports | 1 (2004 est.) | - |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
- |
Area | total: 373 sq km
land: 373 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: less than 3 sq km
land: less than 3 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 780,000 sq km, with the Willis Islets the most important |
Area - comparative | slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC | NA |
Background | This desolate, 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; it is the northernmost active volcano on earth. | Scattered over more than three-quarters of a million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs. |
Climate | arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog | tropical |
Coastline | 124.1 km | 3,095 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen |
conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands |
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 | territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department |
Diplomatic representation from the US | - | none (territory of Australia) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | - | none (territory of Australia) |
Disputes - international | none | none |
Economy - overview | 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. | no economic activity |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m |
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | no permanent fresh water resources |
Executive branch | - | administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department |
Flag description | the flag of Norway is used | the flag of Australia is used |
Geographic coordinates | 71 00 N, 8 00 W | 18 00 S, 152 00 E |
Geography - note | barren volcanic island with some moss and grass | important nesting area for birds and turtles |
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% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2005) |
Legal system | the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply | the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply |
Location | Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland | Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia |
Map references | Arctic Region | Oceania |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 4 nm
contiguous zone: 10 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of Norway | defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors |
Natural hazards | dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970 | occasional tropical cyclones |
Natural resources | none | NEGL |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station (July 2005 est.) |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station on Willis Island (July 2007 est.) |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | - |
Radio broadcast stations | AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: there is one radio and meteorological station (1998) |
- |
Terrain | volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers | sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays) |