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 nm northwest of Iceland and 250 nm 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 Beerenberg (2,277 m), a heavily glaciated volcanic cone and one of the largest of its kind in the world. The active volcano last erupted in 1985.