Bouvet Island Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
Norwegian uninhabited subantarctic volcanic island
About Bouvet Island
Bouvet stands on the mid-Atlantic ridge, where the continents are moving apart, so it formed as a volcanic island in a similar way to Tristan da Cunha and Surtsey. It extends 9.5 km east-west, 7 km north-south, with its highest point Olavtoppen or Mt Olav at 780 m, and a deep caldera just south of the peak. The last eruption was probably around 2000 BC. The rocks only 30 cm below ground are at 25°C, but the island is almost completely ice-clad, and the volcano appears to be decaying into extinction. The island was first sighted on 1 Jan 1739 by Jean Baptiste Charles Bouvet de Lozier, hence its name, but he recorded incorrect coordinates (setting a trend) so the place was lost. It was re-discovered in the 19th century, landings were made, and sealing ships came to the area. But with no shel
Bouvet Island Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 9 sections including: