The incredible ‘devil’s island’ 600mi from the mainland | World | News
A beautiful Norwegian island is 35 miles long but has no permanent residents – and is some 600 miles from the country’s mainland.
Jan Mayen, also known as “Djeveløya” or “Devil’s Island”, lies between Norway and Greenland in the Arctic Ocean, as is so small you might well miss it if you’re casting your eye across the map.
The island, which is dominated by the 7470ft high volcano Beerenberg, reportedly has no indigenous inhabitants or permanent settlements.
It’s perhaps unsurprising there aren’t any resorts to be seen given the tough weather conditions and cold temperatures Jan Meyer is known for, with summer temperatures peaking around 6C in August and winter lows reaching around -4C in March, as per Albatross Expeditions.
The island also has clouds and fog hanging above it through most of the year, obscuring the sunlight, and is regularly in the path of storms.
The landscape is eerily devoid of human life and consists mainly mosses, lichen, grass, herbs, and colonies of seabirds, according to SEAPOP, a long-term monitoring and mapping programme for the creatures in the country.
Harper seals and various whale species, including humpbacks and Minkes, can also be spotted from Jan Mayen.
However, around 18 people do stay there at any one time, and they are employees of the Norwegian Armed Forces or the Norwegian Institute of Meteorology.
The Island was named after a Dutch whaling captain who discovered it 1614. Earlier claims have been made of its discovery but have been inconclusive.
Jan Mayen has been administered from Oslo since 1994 through the county governor of Nordland, but the primary authority has been delegated to Norwegian Defense Communication Service station commander, as per travel firm Adventure Life.
For many years, visiting the island was banned, and reports suggest tourists can only come with permission from the county governor of Nordland.
Given the administrative barriers, lack of infrastructure, and infrequency of cruises to it, visits to desolate island are said to be rare.
The island is therefore enjoyed almost sole by the small team that call it home for half the year. The crew operates weather station, LORAN-C transmitter, a system that helps ships to determine their position at sea, and coastal radio station, Adventure Life says, working in six-month rotations.
