Careers, Opportunities in Ministry
| Introduction | Bouvet Island |
|
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, Bouvet Island
and the adjacent territorial waters were designated a nature
reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological
station on the island. |
| Geography |
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Location:
|
island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa) |
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Map references:
|
Antarctic Region |
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Area:
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total: 58.5
sq km water: 0 sq km land: 58.5 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
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about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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29.6 km |
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Climate:
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antarctic |
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Terrain:
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volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
South Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Olav Peak 935 m |
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Natural resources:
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none |
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Land use:
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arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (93% ice) (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
|
covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve |
| People |
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Population:
|
uninhabited (July 2004 est.) |
| Government |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: none conventional short form: Bouvet Island |
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Dependency status:
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territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo |
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Legal system:
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the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply |
| Economy |
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Economy - overview:
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no economic activity; declared a nature reserve |
| Communications |
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Internet country code:
|
.bv |
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Communications - note:
|
automatic meteorological station |
| Transportation |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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none; offshore anchorage only |
| Military |
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Military - note:
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defense is the responsibility of Norway |
| Transnational Issues |
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Disputes - international:
|
none |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004