2020 Edition

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.

Area

land

6 sq km

total

6 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 12 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Climate

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

Coastline

11.1 km

Elevation

highest point

Rocher Clipperton 29 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates

10 17 N, 109 13 W

Geography - note

the atoll reef is approximately 12 km (7.5 mi) in circumference

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

0% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

100% (2018 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

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

Population

total

uninhabited

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Clipperton Island

etymology

named after an 18th-century English pirate who is alleged to have used the island as a base starting in 1705

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

the flag of France is used

Legal system

the laws of France apply

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of France

Environmental issues

no natural resources, guano deposits depleted; stagnant fresh-water lagoon