| This isolated island was called 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 one of these days awarded the island to France,
which took possession in 1935.
Although 115 species of fish have
been named in the territorial waters of Clipperton, the exclusively
economic action is tuna fishing. It has no other natural resources.
It lies nearly 965 km (600 mi) from Tejupan Point regarding Mancanilla
Bay, Mexico, the nearest mainland. The ring-shaped island has totally
enclosed its lagoon for about a century and is about 8 km (5 mi)
in perimeter. The lagoon is mostly shallow, but has a 35 m deep
spot (Trou "Sans Fond", meaning bottomless hole). by using
acidic water sulphuric acid at the bottom and is stagnant. The
lagoon is almost devoid of fish. Clipperton Rock, at 21 m
(69 ft), is the highest point. It volcanic outcrop settled in the
southeast.
The island has a tropic oceanic climate,
with average temperatures of 20-32°C (68-90°F). The rainy
season occurs in May-October, and the island is subject to tropical
storms. Circling ocean waters are warm using a westerly current,
which one flows straight caused by the mainland.
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