clipperton island

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.

Geography

     Location:  Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120
                km southwest of Mexico

    Geographic  10 17 N, 109 13 W
  coordinates:

           Map  Political Map of the World
   references:

         Area:  total: 6 sq km
                land: 6 sq km
                water: 0 sq km

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

          Land  0 km
   boundaries:

    Coastline:  11.1 km

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

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

      Terrain:  coral atoll

     Elevation  lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
     extremes:  highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m

       Natural  fish
    resources:

     Land use:  arable land: 0%
                permanent crops: 0%
                other: 100% (all coral) (2005)

     Irrigated  0 sq km
         land:

       Natural  NA
      hazards:

 Environment -  NA
       current
       issues:

   Geography -  reef 12 km in circumference
         note:

People

   Population:  uninhabited (July 2006 est.)

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  possession of France; administered by France from
       status:  French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic

 Legal system:  the laws of France, where applicable, apply

          Flag  the flag of France is used
  description:

Economy

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


Transportation

     Ports and  none; offshore anchorage only
    terminals:

Military

    Military -  defense is the responsibility of France
         note:

Transnational
Issues

    Disputes -  none
international: