bouvet island

Bouvet Island
    n 1: an island belonging to Norway in the South Atlantic near
         the Antarctic Circle
    

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.

Geography

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

    Geographic  54 26 S, 3 24 E
  coordinates:

           Map  Antarctic Region
   references:

         Area:  total: 49 sq km
                land: 49 sq km
                water: 0 sq km

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

          Land  0 km
   boundaries:

    Coastline:  29.6 km

      Maritime  territorial sea: 4 nm
       claims:

      Climate:  antarctic

      Terrain:  volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible

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

       Natural  none
    resources:

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

     Irrigated  0 sq km
         land:

       Natural  NA
      hazards:

 Environment -  NA
       current
       issues:

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

People

   Population:  uninhabited (July 2006 est.)

Government

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

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

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

          Flag  the flag of Norway is used
  description:

Economy

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

Communications

      Internet  .bv
 country code:

      Internet  6 (2006)
        hosts:

Communications  automatic meteorological station
       - note:

Transportation

     Ports and  none; offshore anchorage only
    terminals:

Military

    Military -  defense is the responsibility of Norway
         note:

Transnational
Issues

    Disputes -  none
international: