Clipperton Island

§1. Clipperton Island 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.

§2. Clipperton Island 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 kmē
  land: 6 kmē
  water: 0 kmē

Area - comparative:
  about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
  0 km

Coastline:
  11.1 km

Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
  tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, wet season (May to
  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) (2005)

Irrigated land:
  0 kmē (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:
  NA

Environment - current issues:
  NA

Geography - note:
  reef 12 km in circumference

§3. Clipperton Island People

Population:
  uninhabited (July 2006 est.)

§4. Clipperton Island Government

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Clipperton Island
  local long form: none
  local short form: Ile Clipperton
  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

§5. Clipperton Island 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.

§6. Clipperton Island Transportation

Ports and terminals:
  none; offshore anchorage only

§7. Clipperton Island Military

Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of France

§8. Clipperton Island Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
  none


<Factbook 2006>
