Bouvet Island (2006) | Bouvet Island (2001) | |
Area | total: 49 sq km
land: 49 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total:
58.5 sq km land: 58.5 sq km water: 0 sq km |
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. | 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. |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bouvet Island |
conventional long form:
none conventional short form: Bouvet Island |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Olav Peak 935 m |
lowest point:
South Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Olav Peak 935 m |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km | 0 sq km (1993) |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (93% ice) (2005) |
arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 100% (93% ice) |
Location | island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) | Southern Africa, island in the South Atlantic Ocean, south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 4 nm | territorial sea:
4 NM |
Population | uninhabited (July 2006 est.) | uninhabited (July 2001 est.) |
Ports and harbors | - | none; offshore anchorage only |
Terrain | volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible | volcanic; maximum elevation about 800 m; coast is mostly inaccessible |
Waterways | - | none |