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, Norway designated Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters a nature reserve. Since 1977, it has run an automated meteorological station on the 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: 49 sq km country comparison to the world: 231 land: 49 sq km water: 0 sq km`
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 sq km`
Natural hazards: |  |
`NA`
Environment - current issues: |  |
`NA`
Geography - note: |  |
`covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve by Norway`

People

Population: |  |
`uninhabited`

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 Oslo Police`
Legal system: |  |
`the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply`
Flag description: |  |
`the flag of Norway is used`

Economy

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

Communications

Internet country code: |  |
`.bv`
Internet hosts: |  |
`6 (2010) country comparison to the world: 225`
Communications - note: |  |
`automatic meteorological station`

Transportation

Ports and terminals: |  |
`none; offshore anchorage only`

Military

Military - note: |  |
`defense is the responsibility of Norway`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`none`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 25, 2011