ARCHIVE // BV // 2018

Bouvet Island

2018 Edition — territory

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Communications
Communications - note [time series]
has an automated meteorological station
Internet country code [time series]
.bv
Economy
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 49 sq km | land: 49 sq km | water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative [time series]
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
antarctic
Coastline [time series]
29.6 km
Elevation [time series]
0 m lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean | 780 highest point: Olavtoppen (Olav Peak)
Environment - current issues [time series]
none; almost entirely ice covered
Geographic coordinates [time series]
54 26 S, 3 24 E
Geography - note [time series]
almost entirely covered by glacial ice (93%); declared a nature reserve by Norway; the distance from Bouvet Island to Norway is 12,776 km, which is almost one-third the circumference of the earth
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) | arable land: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.) | forest: 0% (2011 est.) | other: 100% (2011 est.)
Location [time series]
island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
Map references [time series]
Antarctic Region
Maritime claims [time series]
territorial sea: 4 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
occasional volcanism, rock slides; harsh climate, surrounded by pack ice in winter
Natural resources [time series]
none
Terrain [time series]
volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible
Government
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Bouvet Island | etymology: named after the French naval officer Jean-Baptiste Charles BOUVET who discovered the island in 1739 | note: pronounced boo-vay i-land
Dependency status [time series]
territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Oslo Police
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
the flag of Norway is used
Legal system [time series]
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Introduction
Background [time series]
This uninhabited, volcanic, Antarctic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers making it difficult to approach; it is recognized as the most remote island on Earth. (It is furthest in distance from any other point of land, 1,639 km from Antarctica.) Bouvet Island was discovered in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom it is named. No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. A few expeditions visited the island in the late 19th century. In 1929, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island two years previously. In 1971, Norway designated Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station and studied foraging strategies and distribution of fur seals and penguins on the island. In February 2006, an earthquake weakened the station's foundation causing it to be blown out to sea in a winter storm. Norway erected a new research station in 2014 that can hold six people for periods of two to four months.
Military and Security
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of Norway
People and Society
Population [time series]
uninhabited
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none
Transportation
Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]
none; offshore anchorage only