Short facts about the geography of Jan Mayen

Location:

Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland

Geographic coordinates:

71 00 N, 8 00 W

Map references:

Arctic Region

Area:

total:  373 sq km land:  373 sq km water:  0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

124.1 km

Maritime claims:

contiguous zone:  10 NM continental shelf:  200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone:  200 NM territorial sea:  4 NM

Climate:

arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog

Terrain:

volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point:  Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land:  0% permanent crops:  0% permanent pastures:  0% forests and woodland:  0% other:  100%

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1993)

Natural hazards:

dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

barren volcanic island with some moss and grass

Source: World Factbook