Bouvet Island

Bouvet Island

Native name: Bouvetøya
Location of Bouvet Island (white dot in center)
Geography
Location	South-Atlantic Ocean
Coordinates	54°26′S3°24′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 as seen from space

Bouvet Island(Norwegian:Bouvetøya,also historically known asLiverpool IslandorLindsay Island) is anislandin the southern part of theAtlantic Ocean.It is in thesub-antarcticareas, 2500 km (1500 miles) south-southwest of theCape of Good Hope(South Africa).

Itbelongs toNorwayand is not subject to theAntarctic Treaty(which says that land south of60°S,includingAntarctica,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 onEarth.The closest piece of land to the island isQueen Maud LandinAntarctica,which is more than 1600 km (994 miles) away.Nobody lives there, and there are rarely any visitors.

Geography

The island isvolcanicand 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 ahelicopter.90% of its area is covered byglaciers(ice).

History

In January 2015 a new research station was put on Bouvet Island, for use by researchexpeditions.

Climate, plants and animal life

Theclimateis cold and does not change much, with an average of +1 °C in the warmest month, and −3 °C in the coldest.

There arepenguins,sea birdsandsealson the island.

In fiction

• Bouvet Island is the setting of the 2004 movieAlien vs. Predator,where it is called by its Norwegian name "Bouvetøya".