2017 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2017 Archive (HTML)
Introduction
Background
This isolated atoll was named for John CLIPPERTON, an English pirate who was rumored to have made it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in 1855 and claimed by the US, 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
- land
- 6 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 Celsius, wet season (May to October)
Coastline
11.1 km
Elevation
- NA lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
- elevation extremes
- lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
- highest point
- Rocher Clipperton 29 m
- mean elevation
- NA
Environment - current issues
no natural resources, guano deposits depleted; the ring-shaped atoll encloses a stagnant fresh-water lagoon
Geographic coordinates
10 17 N, 109 13 W
Geography - note
the atoll reef is approximately 12 km (7.5 mi) in circumference; an attempt to colonize the atoll in the early 20th century ended in disaster and was abandoned in 1917
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- 0% arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0% 0% 100% (all coral) (2011 est.)
- agricultural land
- 0%
- forest
- 0%
- other
- 100% (all coral) (2011 est.)
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
subject to tropical storms and hurricanes from May to October
Natural resources
fish
Terrain
coral atoll
People and Society
Population
uninhabited
Government
Country name
- none Clipperton Island none Ile Clipperton sometimes referred to as Ile de la Passion or Atoll Clipperton named after an 18th-century English pirate who supposedly used the island as a base
- conventional long form
- none
- conventional short form
- Clipperton Island
- etymology
- named after an 18th-century English pirate who supposedly used the island as a base
- former
- sometimes referred to as Ile de la Passion or Atoll Clipperton
- 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