Jan Mayen Why

Much of the information presented in the Svalbard chapters is also relevant to Jan Mayen, as both are high-Arctic environments.

The notes below highlight factors specific to Jan Mayen.

The volcanic island of Jan Mayen lies at approximately the same latitude as Nordkapp, but its remote position — about 290 nautical miles northwest of Iceland and 250 nautical miles east of Greenland — makes it one of the most isolated destinations in the North Atlantic. A passage to Jan Mayen is comparable in scope and commitment to voyages to Greenland or Antarctica and should only be considered by highly experienced crews in well-found offshore vessels.

Jan Mayen is approximately 53 km long and largely barren. The island is dominated by Mount Beerenberg (2 272 m), a heavily glaciated volcanic cone and one of the largest of its kind in the world. This active volcano last erupted in 1985.