Clipperton Island Facts

Facts & Information For Clipperton Island

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Introduction

Background:

This isolated island was named for John CLIPPERTON, a pirate who made it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in 1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France, which took possession in 1935.

Geography

Location:	Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico
Geographic coordinates:	10 17 N, 109 13 W
Map references:	Political Map of the World
Area:	total: 6 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 6 sq km
Area - comparative:	about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:	0 km
Coastline:	11.1 km
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):	territorial sea: 12 NM exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
Climate:	tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rains May-October
Terrain:	coral atoll
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
Natural resources:	fish
Land use:	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all coral) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:	0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:	NA
Environment - current issues:	NA
Geography - note:	reef 12 km in circumference

People

Population:

uninhabited (July 2004 est.)

Government

Country name:	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Clipperton Island local short form: Ile Clipperton local long form: none former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Dependency status:	possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic
Legal system:	the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:	the flag of France is used

Economy

Economy - overview:

Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity is tuna fishing.

Transportation

Waterways:	none
Ports and harbors:	none; offshore anchorage only

Military

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:

none

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