Location:
island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
Geographic coordinates:
54 26 S, 3 24 E
Map references:
Antarctic Region
Area:
total: 49 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 49 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data):
233
Area - comparative:
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
29.6 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 4
nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
Climate:
antarctic
Terrain:
volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible
Elevation:
lowest point:
South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Olavtoppen (Olav Peak) 780 m
Natural resources:
none
Land use:
agricultural land: 0%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 0%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 0%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 0%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 100%
(2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]
Natural hazards:
occasional volcanism, rock slides; harsh climate, surrounded by pack ice in winter
Environment - current issues:
none; almost entirely ice covered
Geography - note:
almost entirely covered by glacial ice (93%); declared a nature reserve by Norway; the distance from Bouvet Island to Norway is 12,776 km, which is almost one-third the circumference of the earth
