Tromelin Island (2006) | Clipperton Island (2006) | |
Airports | 1 (2006) | - |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006) |
- |
Area | total: 1 sq km
land: 1 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 6 sq km
land: 6 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
Background | First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station. | 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. |
Climate | tropical | tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, wet season (May to October) |
Coastline | 3.7 km | 11.1 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tromelin Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Tromelin |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Clipperton Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Clipperton former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion |
Dependency status | possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands | possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic |
Disputes - international | claimed by Mauritius | none |
Economy - overview | no economic activity | Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity is tuna fishing. |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m |
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | the flag of France is used | the flag of France is used |
Geographic coordinates | 15 52 S, 54 25 E | 10 17 N, 109 13 W |
Geography - note | climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises) | reef 12 km in circumference |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km | 0 sq km |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (grasses; scattered bushes) (2005) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all coral) (2005) |
Legal system | the laws of France, where applicable, apply | the laws of France, where applicable, apply |
Location | Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar | Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico |
Map references | Africa | Political Map of the World |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of France | defense is the responsibility of France |
Natural hazards | NA | NA |
Natural resources | fish | fish |
Population | uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2006 est.) | uninhabited (July 2006 est.) |
Terrain | low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic | coral atoll |