Clipperton Island
Clipperton Island is an uninhabited atoll in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Central America. It is about 6 square kilometres (2.3 sq mi) in size and is an overseas territory of France. In Spanish, it is known as Isla de la Pasión. It is about 1,280 kilometres (800 mi) from Acapulco. The nearest French settlements is Papeete, 5,400 kilometres (3,400 mi) away. Paris is 10,677 kilometres (6,634 mi) away. Clipperton Island is about 945 km (587 mi; 510 nmi) south-east of Socorro Island in the Revillagigedo Archipelago, which is the nearest land.
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Pacific Ocean |
| Coordinates | 10°18′N 109°13′W / 10.300°N 109.217°WCoordinates: 10°18′N 109°13′W / 10.300°N 109.217°W |
| Archipelago | None |
| Area | 6 km2 (2.3 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 29 m (95 ft) |
| Country | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Non Applicable |
French explorers found the island in 1711. In 1858, it was made a part of Tahiti. Tahiti was a French protectorate, at the time. There was a dispute between Mexico, and France over the island. In 1909, Victor Emmanuel III of Italy was chosen to decide the issue. In 1931, he decided that the island should belong to France. Despite this, Clipperton was uninhabited most of the time. Since the end of the Second World War, Clipperton has mostly be used for scientific expeditions. There is a weather station, and a small landing strip for airplanes.
Today, the territory is administered from Papeete. Probably between 1840 and 1858, the lagoon closed itself, likely because of thunderstorms. Today, it is a freshwater lagoon. It is the only known freshwater lagoon in the world.[1][2]
In 2011, a postage stamp was made to commemorate the discovery of the island. It had a value of 1€. Officially, the postage stamps of French Polynesia can be used. The island has the postal code 98799; there is no post office, though.[3]
Geography
The island is low-lying and barren, with some scattered grasses, and a few of coconut trees.[4][5]
Clipperton Island Media
- Clipperton Rock (1899).jpg
1899 sketch of Clipperton Rock from the Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, after a photograph
- 2022-04-20-00 00 2022-04-20-23 59 Sentinel-2 L2A True color.jpg
2022-04-20-00 00 2022-04-20-23 59 Sentinel-2 L2A True color
- Jielbeaumadier crabe de clipperton mjp paris 2014.jpeg
A bright-orange Clipperton crab (Johngarthia oceanica)
- Enchelynassa canina head.jpg
The head of a viper moray (Enchelynassa canina)
- Sichem Osprey.jpg
Image of a large tanking ship stanked on an island
- Plan de l'Isle de la Passion (1711).png
Sketch of "l'Isle de la Passion" (Clipperton) from La Princesse's ship's diary (1711).
- $1 stamp of Clipperton Island.jpg
1895 $1 stamp of Clipperton Island, issued by W. Frese & Co. as an agent of the Oceanic Phosphate Company. The local post stamps were used for mail travelling between Clipperton and San Francisco.
- SobrevivientesClipperton.jpg
Mexican survivors from Clipperton Island, 1917
- NH 122194.jpg
The U.S. Navy weather station on the northern side of Clipperton. View is from the top of a radio tower, looking northwest.
- Clipperton Island Jeep and Radio.ogg
Video of the crew of the USS Concord on Clipperton Island landing a Jeep and using a radio
References
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- ↑ Jullien, Pierre (2020-04-17) (in fr). Clipperton : une " passion " américano-franco-mexicaine. https://www.lemonde.fr/mondephilatelique/article/2020/04/17/clipperton-une-passion-americano-franco-mexicaine_6036911_5470897.html. Retrieved 2022-07-31.
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities at line 38: bad argument #1 to 'ipairs' (table expected, got nil).