Bouvet Island Population: uninhabited
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| History | |
| 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. |
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| Geography | |
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| Location: | island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) |
| Geographic coordinates: | 54 26 S, 3 24 E |
| Area: | total: 49 sq km land: 49 sq km water: 0 sq km Size comparison: 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 |
| Natural resources: | none |
| Land use: | 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.) |
| Natural hazards: | occasional volcanism, rock slides; harsh climate, surrounded by pack ice in winter |
| Current Environment Issues: | none; almost entirely ice covered |
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| Population: | uninhabited |
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| Government | |
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| Country name: | 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 |
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| Legal system: | the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply |
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| Economy | |
No economic activity; declared a nature reserve | |
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| Internet country code: | .bv |
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| Ports and terminals: | none; offshore anchorage only |
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| Defense is the responsibility of Norway | |
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| Disputes - International: | none |
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Source: CIA - The World Factbook