Country Profiles: Clipperton Island

Clipperton Island is located in North America.

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
CIA World Factbook

With an area of 6 sq km, it is about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC.

Clipperton Island is actually an atoll, which is a coral island consisting of a reef surrounding a lagoon, located in the North Pacific Ocean (southwest of Mexico). It is an uninhabited possession of France.

The country's names in French is Ile Clipperton, but it was also known as Ile de la Passion. Since Clipperton Island is a possession of France, it does not have a constitution. It is administered directly by the Minister of Overseas France, Victorin Lurel.

Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity is tuna fishing.
CIA World Factbook

The flag of France is use for Clipperton Island.

All of this information was gathered from the CIA World Factbook. For more information, check out these resources...

Clipperton Island, CIA World Factbook

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