Earth Observations taken by the Expedition 17 Crew

ISS017-E-016161 (13 Sept. 2008) --- Bouvet Island in the South Atlantic Ocean is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 17 crewmember on the International Space Station. Bouvet Island is known as the most remote island in the world. Antarctica, over 1600 kilometers to the south, is the nearest land mass. Located near the junction between the South American, African, and Antarctic tectonic plates, the island is mostly formed from a shield volcano -- a broad, gently sloping cone formed by thin, fluid lavas -- that is almost entirely covered by glaciers. The prominent Kapp (Cape) Valdivia on the northern coastline is a peninsula formed by a lava dome -- a volcanic feature built by viscous lavas with a high silica content. It is only along the steep cliffs of the coastline that the underlying dark volcanic rock is visible against the white snow and ice blanketing the island. Bouvet Island was discovered by the French Captain Lozier-Bouvet in 1739, and was subsequently visited by representatives of different nations several times during the 19th century. The island was annexed by the Kingdom of Norway in 1927 following a Norwegian expedition's stay on the island. Bouvet is uninhabited, and its extremely harsh environment precludes anything but short-duration stays. Nevertheless, the island supports some flora (such as lichens) and fauna (seabirds and seals). Abundant sea ice surrounds the island in this view (center).