Jan Mayen

Jan Mayen is a volcanic island in the Arctic Ocean that belongs to Norway. No people live there all the time. The island is 55 km long and covers an area of 377 km². Some parts are covered by ice. The most famous feature is the Beerenberg volcano. It is the northernmost active volcano in the world above sea level.

The island has two main parts: a larger northeastern part called Nord-Jan and a smaller southwestern part called Sør-Jan. They are connected by a narrow strip of land called an isthmus. This isthmus has the island’s two largest lakes, Sørlaguna (South Lagoon) and Nordlaguna (North Lagoon). There is a third, smaller lake named Ullerenglaguna.

Jan Mayen was formed by a volcanic hotspot. Geologists think of it as a microcontinent. Although it is administered separately, it is grouped with Svalbard under the international code "SJ". Norway uses its main country code ".no" online instead of the ".sj" domain for Jan Mayen. The island is far from other lands. It is about 600 km northeast of Iceland, 500 km east of Greenland, and 900 km northwest of Norway.

Natural resources

Jan Mayen Island has one useful natural resource, gravel, found at a site called Trongskaret. The island mainly helps workers at Norway's radio communications and meteorological stations. There is one unpaved airstrip, called Jan Mayensfield, that is about 1,585 meters long. The island has a coast of 124.1 kilometers but no ports or harbors. Ships can only anchor offshore.

The waters around Jan Mayen are good for fishing. The island gives Norway a large area of water to control for fishing and other activities. Since 1980, Norway has claimed an area of water around the island that covers more than a quarter of a million square kilometers. The Norwegian Coast Guard watches these waters to make sure rules are followed.

There are also large amounts of valuable minerals near the island, including copper, zinc, cobalt, gold, and silver. Scientists think there might also be a lot of lithium and scandium there too. Norway is thinking about allowing mining in the deep sea.

Status

Jan Mayen Island is part of the Kingdom of Norway. Since 1995, it has been managed by the County Governor of Nordland, the nearest county in northern Norway. Some control is also given to the station commander of the Norwegian Armed Forces. In late-2025, the Norwegian defence ministry suggested expanding military police powers on the island. This would let the station commander help keep the island safe.

Society

The island of Jan Mayen has no permanent residents. Only workers for the Norwegian Armed Forces and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute live there. About eighteen people stay during the winter, and this number can double in the summer when more maintenance work is done. These workers stay for six months or a year and are replaced twice a year.

Transport to Jan Mayen is provided by military planes that land on a gravel runway. These planes fly from Bodø eight times a year. Large items are brought by ships that anchor nearby during the summer. Tourists sometimes visit by cruise ship, weather permitting.

The island uses Norwegian telephone numbers and has internet through satellite. There is also a postal code, though mail can take a long time to arrive, especially in winter. The island's economy is limited to operating weather stations and other research equipment. There are no natural resources except fish in the surrounding waters and gravel.

History

The land called Svalbarð ("cold coast") by Vikings may have been Jan Mayen, though it was later forgotten for centuries.

In the 1600s, many people claimed to have found the island, but the first true discovery happened in 1614. Three groups found it around the same time. One group, led by Fopp Gerritsz, named it "Isabella." Two ships from the Noordsche Compagnie named it Mr. Joris Eylant after a Dutch mapmaker. Another ship named it Maurits Eylandt. Later, the island appeared on maps with its current name, "Jan Mayen," after one of the captains.

From 1615 to 1638, Dutch whalers used Jan Mayen as a base. They built stations and houses, and many people worked there during the whaling season. Over time, fewer whales were caught, and the island was left empty for a long time.

In 1882-1883, an Austrian expedition stayed on the island and made detailed maps. In 1921, Norway set up its first weather station there. During World War II, a small Norwegian team stayed on the island and sent weather reports to the United Kingdom. After the war, new buildings and a military station were added.

In 1970, the Beerenberg volcano erupted, adding new land to the island. Iceland and Norway had a small disagreement over the island in 1979-1980, but it was resolved.

Environment

In 2010, a rule made Jan Mayen a protected nature area under Norway. This rule helps keep the island and nearby sea life safe, including the ocean floor. People can only land at a small area called Båtvika (Boat Bay). There are no regular flights to the island, and anyone wanting to land or stay must get special permission first. Camping is not allowed.

Jan Mayen has two main parts. Nord-Jan is round and has a tall volcano called Beerenberg, surrounded by a large ice cap with many smaller glaciers. Sør-Jan is narrower and flatter, with its highest point at Rudolftoppen. The island is where cold and warm ocean currents meet, creating a special climate with small temperature changes but often cloudy weather.

In popular culture

Jan Mayen appears in some strategy video games made by Paradox Interactive, like Europa Universalis IV and Victoria 3. In Europa Universalis IV, players can type a special code to make Jan Mayen appear. In Hearts of Iron IV, players can control Jan Mayen led by a polar bear named "Grand Admiral Johan Mayen" while playing as Poland.

In the 2008 game Tomb Raider: Underworld, the character Lara Croft visits Jan Mayen to search for Thor's Hammer.

The 2022 film Tales of Jan Mayen, directed by Hugo Pettit, tells a modern story about climbing Mount Beerenberg.