It lies approximately 550 kilometers north of Iceland and 450 kilometers east of Greenland. The land area is about 373 square kilometers, such as La Gomera in the Canary Islands or Lake Garda in northern Italy. The figure is quite bizarre, as in a narrow spoon of 53 km length extending from the southeast to the northeast. Jan Mayen's magnificent natural center point is a 2277-meter high glacier-covered island in the form of a symmetrical cone.
Jan Mayen was discovered in the 17th century and became part of Norway in 1930. There is an active Norwegian military and weather station. There are no tourist facilities, public accommodation or transport facilities (from outside world to Jan Mayen and back or island). In 2010, Jan Mayen had a Nature reserve - in general it is a good thing without any doubt, but the restrictions for visitors are ridiculously rigid and make it even more difficult to visit the island properly. Before 2010, very rare tourist visits have become very few, making it a little more than a visit to the famine, especially the station or Kvalrossbukta. The lack of sheltered natural ports against harsh weather, and harsh seas make it difficult to visit Jan Mayen. On the other hand, geology, landscape and history in terms of interesting and adventurous polar enthusiasts definitely worth seeing and a unique, fascinating island to experience.
The surface area of Svalbard is 61,022 km². The area of Jan Mayen is 373 km².Jan Mayen's Capital is Longyearbyen. Svalbard’s capital is Olonkinbyen.
Svalbard and Jan Mayen’s Area Code: +47
Svalbard and Jan Mayen's Currency: Norwegian crown
Cities of Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Longyearbyen, Pyramiden, Isfjorden, Ny-Ålesund
Svalbard and Jan Mayen's Economy
Coal mining, tourism and international research are the major industries of Svalbard. Coal mining was historically dominant economic activity, and on 9 February 1920, the Treaty of Spitzbergen gave the treaty to 45 countries, which have so far granted equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian legislation. Although the US, UK, Dutch and Swedish coal companies have been mined in the past, Norway and Russia are still interested in these companies. Low coal prices forced Norwegian coal company Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani to close one of its two mines and significantly reduce the other's activities. Since the 1990s, the tourism and hospitality industry has grown rapidly and Svalbard now receives 60,000 visitors a year.
Settlements in Svalbard were established as company cities, and in the 1950s, their size was high, while the Norwegian state-owned coal company supported nearly 1,000 people. Today, only about 300 people work in the mining industry.
Alcohol, tobacco and vehicles, which are normally highly taxed on the Norwegian mainland, are significantly cheaper at Svalbard in an effort to encourage more people to live in the Arctic archipelago by the Norwegian Government. By law, Norway collects enough taxes to meet the needs of the local government; None of the tax revenues go to the central government.
Since the islands are connected to Norway, their economic activities are provided here.
Nations living in Svalbard and Jan Mayen
59.8% in Norway, 20.4% in Russian and Ukrainian, and 19% in Sweden, Thailand and the Philippines.
Languages spoken in Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Official language; Norwegian and Russian.