Tromelin Island (2002) | Jan Mayen (2007) | |
Airports | 1 (2001) | 1 (2007) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2002) |
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
Area | total: 1 sq km
land: 1 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 377 sq km
land: 377 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC |
Background | First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological 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 | 3.7 km | 124.1 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tromelin Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Tromelin |
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 and Mauritius | 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 7 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 | 15 52 S, 54 25 E | 71 00 N, 8 00 W |
Geography - note | climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises) | 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% (grasses; scattered bushes) (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, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar | Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland |
Map references | Africa | Arctic Region |
Maritime claims | continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
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 | NA | dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970; the most recent eruption occurred in 1985 |
Natural resources | fish | none |
Population | uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (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 | low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic | volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers |
Waterways | none | - |