That name was identical to the word aurr which means "gravel" or "wet clay", likely since there is very little good soil on the island–it is mostly sand and pebbles because it is part of a moraine that was made during the last ice age.

[1][2] Jomfruland is famous for its abundance of European thimbleweed, a feature which made it a location for the 1995 Norwegian movie production of Sigrid Undset's Kristin Lavransdatter.

Much of the bird migration each spring and autumn follows the coastline and passes by the island's northern peak.

Due to the island's diverse plant life, a relatively large number of nesting bird species have been documented.

Also thrush nightingale, common rosefinch and red-backed shrike are regular breeding species, whereas more irregular finds are of greenish warbler (1992 – only breeding observation in Norway), stock pigeon, northern shoveler and barnacle goose (the latter two on nearby islands).

Geologically, Jomfruland is part of a large residual moraine from the Ice Age called the Raet step.

Eastward, the moraine remains underwater from Jomfruland to Mølen in Brunlanes, before it reappears after crossing Tromøya.