CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Clipperton Island


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!| 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.
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!| Location: !| Geographic coordinates: !| Map references: !| Area: water: 0 sq km land: 6 sq km !| Area - comparative: !| Land boundaries: !| Coastline: !| Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm !| Climate: !| Terrain: !| Elevation extremes: highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m !| Natural resources: !| Land use: permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all coral) (2001) !| Irrigated land: !| Natural hazards: !| Environment - current issues: !| Geography - note:
 * Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico
 * 10 17 N, 109 13 W
 * Political Map of the World
 * total: 6 sq km
 * about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
 * 0 km
 * 11.1 km
 * territorial sea: 12 nm
 * tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rains May-October
 * coral atoll
 * lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
 * fish
 * arable land: 0%
 * 0 sq km (1998 est.)
 * NA
 * NA
 * reef 12 km in circumference
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!| Population:
 * uninhabited (July 2004 est.)
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!| Country name: conventional short form: Clipperton Island local short form: Ile Clipperton local long form: none former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion !| Dependency status: !| Legal system: !| Flag description:
 * conventional long form: none
 * possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic
 * the laws of France, where applicable, apply
 * the flag of France is used
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!| Economy - overview:
 * Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity is tuna fishing.
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!| Ports and harbors:
 * none; offshore anchorage only
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!| Military - note:
 * defense is the responsibility of France
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