Some Obscurish facts
#793
In 1739 the French Antarctic explorer Jean Bouvet discovered a glacier-decked island 1,500 mi. from the Cape of Good Hope and named it after himself. Tow subsequent British expeditions, however, failed to locate any such place, which, accordingly, was not marked in the official Admiralty charts. But in 1808 and 1822, British sealing vessels found Bouvet Island exactly where the Frenchman had placed it, and even landed on its bleak shore. The island was promptly marked on the maps. Then, in 1845, Bouvet disappeared once more. Two naval survey expeditions sighted no trace of the 5-sq.-mi. mystery spot. The British Admiralty again expunged it from its charts. Ten years later three ships separately confirmed its existence again, but the Admiralty was now so confused that it produced some maps showing Bouvet and others without it. In 1898 official confirmation, backed by photographs, was supplied by the German steamer Valdivia. Both the Admiralty and the U.S. Navy now put Bouvet back on their charts. It is still there--despite the fact that the Norwegian survey craft Stavanger reported its disappearance once more in 1921
In 1739 the French Antarctic explorer Jean Bouvet discovered a glacier-decked island 1,500 mi. from the Cape of Good Hope and named it after himself. Tow subsequent British expeditions, however, failed to locate any such place, which, accordingly, was not marked in the official Admiralty charts. But in 1808 and 1822, British sealing vessels found Bouvet Island exactly where the Frenchman had placed it, and even landed on its bleak shore. The island was promptly marked on the maps. Then, in 1845, Bouvet disappeared once more. Two naval survey expeditions sighted no trace of the 5-sq.-mi. mystery spot. The British Admiralty again expunged it from its charts. Ten years later three ships separately confirmed its existence again, but the Admiralty was now so confused that it produced some maps showing Bouvet and others without it. In 1898 official confirmation, backed by photographs, was supplied by the German steamer Valdivia. Both the Admiralty and the U.S. Navy now put Bouvet back on their charts. It is still there--despite the fact that the Norwegian survey craft Stavanger reported its disappearance once more in 1921