Native name: Bouvetøya | |
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Geography | |
Location | South-Atlantic Ocean |
Coordinates | 54°26′S 3°24′E / 54.433°S 3.400°E |
Area | 49 km2 (19 sq mi) (93% glaciated) |
Highest elevation | 780 m (2560 ft) |
Highest point | Olavtoppen |
Administration | |
Norway | |
Demographics | |
Population | 0 |
Bouvet Island (Norwegian: Bouvetøya, also historically known as Liverpool Island or Lindsay Island) is an island in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is in the sub-antarctic areas, 2500 km (1500 miles) south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa).[1]
It belongs to Norway and is not subject to the Antarctic Treaty (which says that land south of 60°S, including Antarctica, does not belong to any country). It is the most remote island in the world, which means that is farther from other land than any other island on Earth.[2] The closest piece of land to the island is Queen Maud Land in Antarctica,[3] which is more than 1600 km (994 miles) away.[4] Nobody lives there, and there are rarely any visitors.
The island is volcanic and has high cliffs on all sides (created by high waves over thousands of years). Because of these cliffs, people usually only go to the island by flying in a helicopter.[5] 90% of its area is covered by glaciers (ice).
In January 2015 a new research station was put on Bouvet Island, for use by research expeditions.[5]
The climate is cold and does not change much, with an average of +1 °C in the warmest month, and −3 °C in the coldest.