Europa Island (2006) | Bouvet Island (2005) | |
Airports | 1 (2006) | - |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006) |
- |
Area | total: 28 sq km
land: 28 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 58.5 sq km
land: 58.5 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC | about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC |
Background | A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station. | 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. |
Climate | tropical | antarctic |
Coastline | 22.2 km | 29.6 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Europa Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Europa |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bouvet Island |
Dependency status | possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands | territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo |
Disputes - international | claimed by Madagascar | none |
Economy - overview | no economic activity | no economic activity; declared a nature reserve |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 24 m |
lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Olav Peak 935 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | the flag of France is used | the flag of Norway is used |
Geographic coordinates | 22 20 S, 40 22 E | 54 26 S, 3 24 E |
Geography - note | wildlife sanctuary | covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km | 0 sq km (1998 est.) |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (2005) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (93% ice) (2001) |
Legal system | the laws of France, where applicable, apply | the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply |
Location | Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way between southern Madagascar and southern Mozambique | island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) |
Map references | Africa | Antarctic Region |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
territorial sea: 4 nm |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of France | defense is the responsibility of Norway |
Natural hazards | NA | NA |
Natural resources | NEGL | none |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2006 est.) |
uninhabited (July 2005 est.) |
Ports and harbors | - | none; offshore anchorage only |
Terrain | low and flat | volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible |