Animals in Jan Mayen

Jan Mayen is an island in the Arctic Ocean, north-east of Iceland, and is considered a part of Norway. It is a volcanic island with one active volcano, Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg, which last erupted in 1985 and is the northernmost active volcano in the world that can be found above sea level. The island has glaciers covering parts of it, but it has relatively minor winters and cold summers, with the surrounding waters being the typically icy temperatures to be found in the Arctic. It is foggy and frequently subjected to storms.

The terrain is mostly barren, with some grass, flowers and moss. There are at least three species of Dandelions that can only be found on Jan Mayen, but these plants are the only species of flora or fauna unique to the island. There is a variety of wildlife to be found, but they are typical to Arctic regions. Animals such as seals, polar bears, and Arctic foxes can be found; however, there are not a large number of them. The Arctic fox is the only mammal that was once numerous on the island, but is has been hunted to near extinction and so is not seen as frequently.

Jan Mayen is near the breeding sites for hooded and harped seals, which can move closer or further from the island, depending on glacial ice. The island is also used as a nesting site for a number of birds, as many as 27 species, including a couple of species of migrating songbirds. Jan Mayen was once used as a base for whaling and whales can still be seen in the waters around the island. There is a human presence on the island due to the radio and meteorological stations located there, but there is not a large human population present.