ian Ocean Territory

Disputes - international: Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos
Archipelago and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius,
but in 2001 were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation
since eviction in 1965; repatriation is complicated by the US military
lease of Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain

This page was last updated on 1 January 2002

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Clipperton Island

Introduction

Clipperton Island

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 Clipperton Island

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

Geographic coordinates: 10 17 N, 109 13 W

Map references: Political Map of the World

Area: total: 7 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 7 sq km

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

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 11.1 km

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

Climate: tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rains
May-October

Terrain: coral atoll

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

Natural resources: fish

Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all coral)
(1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards: NA

Environment - current issues: NA

Geography - note: reef about 8 km in circumference

People Clipperton Island

Population: uninhabited (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate: NA

Government Clipperton Island

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

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

Flag description: the flag of France is used

Economy Clipperton Island

Economy - overview: Although 115 species of fish have been identified in
the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, t