Bouvet Island (Norwegian Bouvetøya) is an uninhabited volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean, south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa). It is almost entirely covered by glaciers and is difficult to approach. It has no ports or harbors, only offshore anchorages.
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.
Economy - overview: no economic activity; declared a nature reserve
Communications - note: automatic meteorological station
Country codes: BV
Country name:
conventional long form:
none
conventional short form:
Bouvet Island
Data code: BV
Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo
Flag description: the flag of Norway is used
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway.
From the CIA World Factbook 2000.