Bouvet Island

Overview

Bouvet Island or Bouvetøya Island is probably the world's most remote island. Since the hunting of whales and seals was stopped in the Southern Atlantic the island is only rarely visited by man. It lies approximately 1,600km south west of the Cape of Good Hope on the southern extremity of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The volcanic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers and form sheer ice cliffs which fall vertically towards black beaches.

The island is named after the French naval officer who discovered it in 1739, but the volcanic nature of the area and submerged islands meant that even after 10 days of trying he was unable to land. The island remained unclaimed until 1825 when it was claimed by Britain. In 1928 after a year of occupation by Norwegian whalers it was handed over to Norway.

In 1971 Bouvet Island and the surrounding waters were classed as a nature reserve. However on September 22, 1979 a nuclear bomb test occurred between Bouvet Island and Marion Island, for which no-nation has ever claimed responsibility. Jeremy Boote

History

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, Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the island.