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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. |
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Location:
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Middle America,
atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico |
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Map references:
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Political
Map of the World |
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Area:
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total: 6
sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 6 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about 12 times
the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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11.1 km |
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Climate:
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tropical; humid,
average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rains May-October |
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Terrain:
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coral atoll |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish |
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Land use:
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arable land:
0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all coral) (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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0 sq km (1998
est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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NA |
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Environment - current issues:
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NA |
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Geography - note:
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reef 12 km in
circumference |
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Population:
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uninhabited (July
2004 est.) |
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Country name:
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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 |
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Dependency status:
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possession of
France; administered by France from French Polynesia by a high
commissioner of the Republic |
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Legal system:
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the laws of
France, where applicable, apply |
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Economy - overview:
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Although 115
species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters
of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity is tuna
fishing. |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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none; offshore
anchorage only |
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Military - note:
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defense is the
responsibility of France |
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Disputes - international:
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none |
This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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