| Clipperton Island |  | Click to enlarge
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In general, information available as of 1 January, 2004 was used in the preparation of The World Factbook. This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005
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| Introduction | Clipperton Island | Top of Page
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 | Clipperton Island | Top of Page
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 land: 6 sq km water: 0 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: | 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) (2001)
Irrigated land: | 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: | NA
Environment - current issues: | NA
Geography - note: | reef 12 km in circumference
| People | Clipperton Island | Top of Page
Population: | uninhabited (July 2004 est.)
| Government | Clipperton Island | Top of Page
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
| Economy | Clipperton Island | Top of Page
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 | Clipperton Island | Top of Page
Ports and harbors: | none; offshore anchorage only
| Military | Clipperton Island | Top of Page
Military - note: | defense is the responsibility of France
| Transnational Issues | Clipperton Island | Top of Page
Disputes - international: | none
This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005