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  Clipperton Island  
Flag of Clipperton Island
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In general, information available as of 1 January 2002
was used in the preparation of The World Factbook 2002.


This page was last updated on 19 March 2003


Map of Clipperton Island

Legend: Definition Definition Field Listing Field Listing
   Introduction    Clipperton Island
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
10 17 N, 109 13 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Political Map of the World
Area:
Definition Field Listing
total: 6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 6 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
11.1 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rains May-October
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
coral atoll
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
fish
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all coral) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
reef 12 km in circumference
   People    Clipperton Island
Population:
Definition Field Listing
uninhabited (July 2002 est.)
   Government    Clipperton Island
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Clipperton Island
local short form: Ile Clipperton
local long form: none
former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
the flag of France is used
   Economy    Clipperton Island
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing
none
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
none; offshore anchorage only
   Military    Clipperton Island
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of France
   Transnational Issues    Clipperton Island
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
none

This page was last updated on 19 March 2003


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