Beerenberg on Jan Mayen Island in the Arctic
The most northerly active volcano above sea-level
The island was discovered in 1607 by the enigmatic Englishman
Henry Hudson
while he was in the employ of the English Muscovy Company,
he named it Hudson's Tutches.
The name Jan Mayen is derived from a Dutch whaler who had
a base on the island from 1611 to 1635.
The island was annexed by Norway in 1929.
The volcano name, Beerenberg, is actually Dutch
The volcano has a 1 km diameter summit crater and is largely
ice-covered
Mostly basaltic lavas with little tephra, probably a shield
volcano.
Last erupted in 1985 with a VEI of 1 magnitude .
The stamp below was issued to celebrate the International
Geophysical Year of 1957.
Stamp courtesy of Bjørn Munch
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