Jan Mayen (2005) | Paracel Islands (2001) | |
Airports | 1 (2004 est.) | 1 (2000 est.) |
Airports - with paved runways | - | total:
1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 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:
NA sq km land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km |
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. | This archipelago is surrounded by productive fishing grounds and potentially large oil reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Prattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops captured a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. However, the islands are still claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan. |
Climate | arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog | tropical |
Coastline | 124.1 km | 518 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen |
conventional long form:
none conventional short form: Paracel 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 | - |
Disputes - international | none | occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam |
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. | China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m |
lowest point:
South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | the flag of Norway is used | - |
Geographic coordinates | 71 00 N, 8 00 W | 16 30 N, 112 00 E |
Geography - note | barren volcanic island with some moss and grass | - |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1998 est.) | 0 sq km (1993) |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2001) |
arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% |
Legal system | the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply | - |
Location | Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland | Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines |
Map references | Arctic Region | Southeast Asia |
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 |
NA |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of Norway | occupied by China |
Natural hazards | dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970 | typhoons |
Natural resources | none | none |
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 are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2001 est.) |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded |
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 | mostly low and flat |
Waterways | - | none |