The 2003 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency
- with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Military Christmas Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia
Transnational Issues Christmas Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Clipperton Island
Introduction Clipperton Island
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.
Geography Clipperton Island
Location:
Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km
southwest of Mexico
Geographic coordinates:
10 17 N, 109 13 W
Map references:
Political Map of the World
Area:
total: 6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 6 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
11.1 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical; humid, average temperature 20–32 degrees C, rains
May-October
Terrain:
coral atoll
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all coral) (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Geography - note:
reef 12 km in circumference
People Clipperton Island
Population: uninhabited (July 2003 est.)
Government Clipperton Island
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Clipperton Island
local short form: Ile Clipperton
local long form: none
former: sometimes called Ile de la Passion
Dependency status:
possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesia
by a high commissioner of the Republic
Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply
Flag description:
the flag of France is used
Economy Clipperton Island
Economy - overview:
Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the
territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity
is tuna fishing.
Transportation Clipperton Island
Waterways:
none
Ports and harbors:
none; offshore anchorage only
Military Clipperton Island
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France
Transnational Issues Clipperton Island
Disputes - international: none
This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003
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@Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Introduction Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Background:
There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William Keeling
discovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited until
the 19th century. Annexed by the UK in 1857, they were transferred
to the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the two
inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on
West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.
Geography Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Location:
Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest
of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates:
12 30 S, 96 50 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 14 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island
water: 0 sq km
land: 14 sq km
Area - comparative:
about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
26 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate:
tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds
for about nine months of the year
Terrain:
flat, low-lying coral atolls
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m
Natural resources:
fish
Land use: arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
NA sq km
Natural hazards:
cyclone season is October to April
Environment - current