### Bouvet Island

(territory of Norway)

- Introduction
- Geography
- People
- Government
- Economy
- Communications
- Transportation
- Military
- Transnational Issues

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
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 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 Police from Oslo

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

Click to enlarge.
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 (2008)

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

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