Part 8/10:
Jan Mayen's whaling industry burgeoned in the early 1600s, but overhunting led to the decline of whale populations and a subsequent abandonment of the island for long periods. In the late 1800s, an Austrian-Hungarian team established the first organized scientific observations of the island, marking a shift toward research and monitoring.
As the 20th century progressed, Jan Mayen became increasingly critical in meteorological and military contexts, especially during World War II when it played a role in the ‘weather war’ between the Allies and Axis powers. After Norway formally annexed Jan Mayen in 1930, it became integral to NATO's strategic military operations during the Cold War.