Bouvet Island

§1. Bouvet Island Introduction

Background:
  This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers and
  is difficult to approach. It was discovered in 1739 by a French naval
  officer after whom the island was named. No claim was made until 1825, when
  the British flag was raised. In 1928, the UK waived its claim in favor of
  Norway, which had occupied the island the previous year. In 1971, Bouvet
  Island and the adjacent territorial waters were designated a nature
  reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station on
  the island.

§2. Bouvet Island Geography

Location:
  island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope
  (South Africa)

Geographic coordinates:
  54 26 S, 3 24 E

Map references:
  Antarctic_Region

Area:
  total: 58.5 kmē
  land: 58.5 kmē
  water: 0 kmē

Area - comparative:
  about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
  0 km

Coastline:
  29.6 km

Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 4 nm

Climate:
  antarctic

Terrain:
  volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
  highest point: Olav Peak 935 m

Natural resources:
  none

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  other: 100% (93% ice) (2005)

Irrigated land:
  0 kmē (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
  NA

Environment - current issues:
  NA

Geography - note:
  covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve

§3. Bouvet Island People

Population:
  uninhabited (July 2006 est.)

§4. Bouvet Island Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Bouvet Island

Dependency status:
  territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry
  of Justice and Police from Oslo

Legal system:
  the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply

Flag description:
  the flag of Norway is used

§5. Bouvet Island Economy

Economy - overview:
  no economic activity; declared a nature reserve

§6. Bouvet Island Communications

Internet country code:
  .bv

Communications - note:
  automatic meteorological station

§7. Bouvet Island Transportation

Ports and terminals:
  none; offshore anchorage only

§8. Bouvet Island Military

Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of Norway

§9. Bouvet Island Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  none


<Factbook 2006>
