ok, I've been saving this one up for a while. It's sort of a trick country. But awesome none the less. I actually haven't gone here. But I've admired it from afar. It is actually very hard to visit. It is one of the most remote islands in the world, has no boat docks and the government frowns on 'visitors'. The entire island is a nature preserve. Wiki Travel is almost blank for visiting here. If you are lucky enough to be one of the scientists who get to come here, you take a boat to the area, then a helicopter to the actual island.
Less than 100 sq miles in (way less) this small volcanic island covered in glaciers, well most of the island is glaciers. The sheer cliffs on the coast rise up to 500 meters.
The catch with this country is that it is uninhabited. That's right no one lives here. Then how is it a country you ask. I have no idea. There are some crazy technicalities in regards to 'country status' , but according to wiki it is a Dependant Territory.
Because of the harsh climate the flora and fauna mostly absent as well. Moss is the local 'agriculture' and mostly seabirds, seals and penguins rule the place.
Something quite random for this place is that though no one lives here it actually has its own country code top level domain. What is that? you ask.. look it up.
The island was supposedly discovered by a French commander in the 1700's. But apparently he didn't fix the location accurately, which caused a lot of confusion. James Cook himself tried to find it but when he got to the location nothing was there and he assumed the french guy was charting icebergs.
Lots of other explorers have sighted or claimed to land on the island. But the first extended stay was not until the 1920's. They stayed for about a month, and made the claim for their country.
There are lots of mysteries surrounding this place. A ship was found in the 60's including supplies, but the passengers were never found or heard from. Then in the late 70's a satellite recorded a flash of light in the vicinity of this island. Some think it was a nuclear bomb explosion, some a meteor crashing, or maybe aliens... the flash is famous now, but no one has been able to resolve what it was. In the 90's they built field stations, 15 years later no one can find the building on the satellite images. Maybe an avalanche or glacier swept it away.. maybe.
But there is still an unmanned weather station.
Even Hollywood wants in on the action here. Aliens vs Predators was set here.
I dare you to find more info on this one!
HAH!!!! I am first it is Bouvet Island!!!
ReplyDeleteAn island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)
Geographic coordinates:
54 26 S, 3 24 E
Climate:
antarctic
Geography - note:
covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve by Norway
Bouvet Island (a dependent territory of Norway)
ReplyDelete1. The nearest land is Queen Maud Land, Antarctica, over 1,750 kilometres (1,090 mi) away to the south.
2. considered the most remote island on the planet
3. the mean temperature is minus 1.5ºC (35 F).
4. The flash of light (known as the Vela Incident) was as a nuclear test (radioactive debris has been found). Though no one claims responsibility, blame has landed on a secret South African-Israeli detonation.
the code and domain name is "BV Bouvet Island"
ReplyDeletemustang Sally Norway claims ownership??
Bouvet Island. I'll have to post my info later. How do people get things done with more than one child?
ReplyDeletemy guess is Bouvet.
ReplyDelete1. The Island has a high of 35 F tomorrow.
2. It is .3 times the size of Washington DC.
3. It along with two other countries are the only contries in the world with no internet hosts