Bouvet Island is a remote volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean, difficult to access due to harsh climate and steep cliffs. It was discovered by Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier in 1739, but its location was lost until rediscovered by James Lindsay in 1808. Norway now controls the island and has designated it a nature reserve. It has been featured in films and books, but is not a tourist destination.
Bouvet Island is a volcanic island located in the South Atlantic Ocean and is often considered the most remote island on the planet. The island is approximately four miles long (about 6.4 km) and three miles wide (about 4.8 km). It is located south-southwest of the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. In the center of the island is the ice-filled crater of a dormant volcano. Due to the extremely harsh climate, the island can only host lichens and mosses. Seals and penguins can also be found there.
The surface is almost completely covered by glaciers. It has no harbors or ports, and is therefore extremely difficult to approach. Making access even more difficult are the steep cliffs surrounding the island, which can reach up to around 1,640 meters. The easiest way to reach the island is to take a helicopter from a boat, anchored offshore.
Jean-Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier, after whom the island is named, discovered it in 1739. Bouvet, however, did not accurately record his sailing or discovery, making it unclear whether the naval commander had discovered an island or piece of a continent. Others, such as James Cook, searched for the island, but as Bouvet’s coordinates had been recorded incorrectly, it was never found again.
In 1808, James Lindsay found Bouvet Island, but the location was so significantly different from the Bouvet find, that it was renamed Lindsay Island before anyone realized it was actually Bouvet Island. In 1825, Britain made its first claim to the island, hoisting a flag and deeming it Liverpool Island. Little has become of the occupation, however.
In 1927, Norwegian explorers completed the first extended stay on the island, staying nearly a month. This feat resulted in Britain’s handing over of control of the island to Norway.
Since the end of whaling and whaling activities, there are few reasons for humans to go to the island. Bouvet Island, together with the surrounding waters, was designated a nature reserve by Norway in 1971. Norway operates an automated weather station from the island.
Interestingly, the island was used as the setting for the 2004 film, Alien vs. Predator. The island is also featured in some books, such as A Grue of Ice and Warhead. Despite its intriguing history and unique topography, it’s not a vacation destination.
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