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  Bouvet Island  
Flag of Bouvet Island
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In general, information available as of 1 January 2003
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2003.


This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


Map of Bouvet Island

Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Bouvet Island
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, 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    Bouvet Island
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: 58.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 58.5 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) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km (1998 est.)
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
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
uninhabited (July 2003 est.)
   Government    Bouvet Island
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
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
   Communications    Bouvet Island
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.bv
Communications - note:
Definition Field Listing
automatic meteorological station
   Transportation    Bouvet Island
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
none; offshore anchorage only
   Military    Bouvet Island
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of Norway
   Transnational Issues    Bouvet Island
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003


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