Bouvet Island:
Geography


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.

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