2013 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2013 Archive (HTML)
Introduction
Background
This isolated atoll was named for John CLIPPERTON, a pirate who was rumored to have made it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in 1855 and claimed by the United States, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France in 1931, which took possession in 1935.
Geography
Area
- 6 sq km 6 sq km 0 sq km
- total
- 6 sq km
- water
- 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, wet season (May to October)
Coastline
11.1 km
Elevation extremes
- Pacific Ocean 0 m Rocher Clipperton 29 m
- highest point
- Rocher Clipperton 29 m
- lowest point
- Pacific Ocean 0 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Geographic coordinates
10 17 N, 109 13 W
Geography - note
the atoll reef is approximately 12 km (7.5 mi) in circumference; an effort to colonize the atoll in the early 20th century ended in disaster and was abandoned in 1917
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- 0% 0% 100% (all coral) (2011)
- arable land
- 0%
- other
- 100% (all coral) (2011)
- permanent crops
- 0%
Location
Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico
Map references
Political Map of the World
Maritime claims
- 12 nm 200 nm
- exclusive economic zone
- 200 nm
- territorial sea
- 12 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
fish
Terrain
coral atoll
People and Society
Population
uninhabited
Government
Country name
- none Clipperton Island none Ile Clipperton sometimes called Ile de la Passion
- conventional long form
- none
- conventional short form
- Clipperton Island
- former
- sometimes called Ile de la Passion
- local long form
- none
- local short form
- Ile Clipperton
Dependency status
possession of France; administered directly by the Minister of Overseas France
Flag description
the flag of France is used
Legal system
the laws of France apply
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
Ports and terminals
none; offshore anchorage only
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none