NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Jan Mayen
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland |
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Geographic coordinates:
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71 00 N, 8 00 W |
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Map references:
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Arctic Region |
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Area:
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total: 373 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 373 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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124.1 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 10 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 4 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM |
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Climate:
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arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog |
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Terrain:
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volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m |
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Natural resources:
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none |
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970 |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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barren volcanic island with some moss and grass |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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no indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station (July 2002 est.) |