Olonkinbyen[needs IPA] (literally The Olonkin Town) is the only settlement on the Norwegian island of Jan Mayen (aside from isolated cottage huts such as Puppebu[1]). It was named after Russian-Norwegian explorer Gennady Olonkin.[2]

Olonkinbyen
Locale
(de facto capital of Jan Mayen)
Olonkinbyen on Jan Mayen island
Olonkinbyen on Jan Mayen island
Etymology: Olonkin City
Olonkinbyen is located in Europe
Olonkinbyen
Olonkinbyen
Location of Olonkinbyen in Europe
Coordinates: 70°55′19″N 8°42′54″W / 70.92194°N 8.71500°W / 70.92194; -8.71500
Country Norway
ISOSvalbard and Jan Mayen
IslandJan Mayen
Established1962 (1962)
Population
 • Total
c. 18
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Websitejan.mayen.no
Olonkinbyen on Jan Mayen map

The only inhabitants on the island are the 18 personnel, 14 working for the Norwegian Armed Forces and 4 for the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, but can have up to 35 people inhabiting the island at any given time. Olonkinbyen houses the staff that operate the meteorological observation station, Loran-C station, Jan Mayensfield air field and other infrastructure. The meteorological observation service staff are responsible for the radiosonde releases and synoptic weather observations. The crew of the meteorological station is engaged for six months at a time.[3][4]

Supplies are delivered eight times a year by aircraft. Fuel and heavy goods are transported by boat during the summer. The settlement generates its own electrical power via three generators.[5][6]

Climate

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Olonkinbyen has a tundra climate (Köppen classified as ET), the warmest month is August and the coldest month is March.

Climate data for Olonkinbyen
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −5
(23)
−5
(23)
−5
(23)
−3
(27)
0
(32)
3
(37)
5
(41)
5
(41)
3
(37)
1
(34)
−2
(28)
−4
(25)
−1
(31)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −10
(14)
−11
(12)
−11
(12)
−9
(16)
−5
(23)
−2
(28)
0
(32)
1
(34)
−1
(30)
−4
(25)
−7
(19)
−9
(16)
−6
(22)
Average precipitation cm (inches) 7.6
(3)
5.1
(2)
7.6
(3)
5.1
(2)
5.1
(2)
5.1
(2)
5.1
(2)
7.6
(3)
7.6
(3)
10
(4)
7.6
(3)
7.6
(3)
81.1
(32)
Source: [7]

References

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  1. ^ http://jan.mayen.no/hytter-pa-jan-mayen/ (In Norwegian)
  2. ^ "Gennadij Olonkin". polarhistorie.no. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  3. ^ "Loran Station Jan Mayen". loran-history.info. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  4. ^ "Jan Mayen - Airfield "Jan Mayensfield"". Jan Mayensfield. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  5. ^ Images and Information on Olonkin City Archived 2006-05-22 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Oppgavene på Jan Mayen". Meteorologisk institutt. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  7. ^ World Climate Guide
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70°55′19″N 8°42′54″W / 70.922°N 8.715°W / 70.922; -8.715