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  Bouvet Island
(territory of Norway)
 
Flag of Bouvet Island
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 Introduction
 Geography
 People
 Government
 Economy
 Communications
 Transportation
 Military
 Transnational Issues

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of Bouvet Island
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Bouvet Island Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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    Bouvet Island Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
54 26 S, 3 24 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Antarctic Region
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 49 sq km
land: 49 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
29.6 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 4 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
antarctic
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Olav Peak 935 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
none
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (93% ice) (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve
   People    Bouvet Island Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
uninhabited
   Government    Bouvet Island Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bouvet Island
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
the flag of Norway is used
   Economy    Bouvet Island Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
   Communications    Bouvet Island Top of Page
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.bv
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6 (2007)
Communications - note:
Definition Field Listing
automatic meteorological station
   Transportation    Bouvet Island Top of Page
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
none; offshore anchorage only
   Military    Bouvet Island Top of Page
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of Norway
   Transnational Issues    Bouvet Island Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


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