Jan-Mayen

Jan Mayen Island is located between the Norwegian and Greenland seas, is considered a territory of Norway.

The two parts of North Yang and South Yang Island connect with each other an isthmus with a length of 2.5 kilometers.

It is believed that the island was discovered by a monk from Ireland, Brendan, in the VI century.

The island was named after the captain of the whaling ship Jan Jacobson Mai van Shellinhaut, who discovered it in 1614, but other claims to the island and its name were recorded, which, however, were not taken into account.

The island is of volcanic origin, on its territory is the Berenber stratovolcano (its last activity was noted in 1985).

Jan Mayen is an uninhabited island inhabited only by employees of the Long-Distance Navigation Station (Loran-C) and the Meteorological and Coastal Service radio station.

The climate is arctic, in the summer months the air temperature rarely rises above + 5 C, the average temperature in winter is -5 C, sometimes - 10 C. There are fogs on the island, as well as strong winds.

Flora of the island: several species of moss, fungi and lichens, dwarf willows, several species of dandelions (part of them are endemic). Fauna: about 100 species of birds, among them loons and cairns, dolphins, seals, whales live in coastal waters. Polar bear and fox can get to the island on ice or on the established ice cover.

It is known that during the Second World War the territory of the island was not occupied by Germany, unlike the whole of Norway, but was repeatedly subjected to air strikes by the German Air Force. After the end of the war, the wreckage of two German aircraft was found on the island, and the remains of their crews were buried in the Norwegian city of Narvik.

Nowadays, it is difficult to get to the island, tourists must get a special entry permit, and the visit time will be limited. Tents are also prohibited on the island, and its territory has received the status of a natural reserve. But, despite all the difficulties, trips to Jan Mayen are extremely popular among fans of extreme travel.

The island has one runway, and instead of the seaport anchorages. Often charter and military aircraft cannot land on the island due to poor weather conditions.

 

Photo: wikiway