AROUND THE WORLD
THE CLIPPERTON ISLAND IN THE NORTH PACIFIC
Our planet contain such geographical, ecological and scientific diversity that we also find it on Clipperton Island, which is the only French territory located in the North Pacific Ocean , 1081 kilometers from the Mexican coast , in unique places expressing all the beauty of the earth.
Discovered on April 3, 1711, and recognized by Mexico in 1959 as a sovereign territory of France, Clipperton Island is located in the North Pacific Ocean, 1081 kilometers off the Mexican mainland coast in the state of Michoacan in
Mexico is an island with a special status, falling under the public domain and state-owned properties of the French Republic, in parallel with the same legislative and territorial regime as the French Southern and Antarctic French Lands
(TAAF) as a territory without any permanent population.
Also known as "Passion Island" or "Passion Clipperton" and
the only coral atoll in this part of the Pacific Ocean The island, covering an area of 1.7 square kilometers, is configured with a subcircular shape of 12 kilometers in circumference and a diameter varying from 2.4 to 3.9 kilometers incorporating a height of 4 meters for its reef section, with a highest point being a 29-meter-high volcanic rock known as "Clipperton Rock" which emerges from the lagoon in the south-east part of the atoll complemented in its central part by a freshwater lagoon covering 710 hectares comprising 10 islets, in addition to the seabed which consists of
gravel and coral sands covered of guano.
A majestic natural area inhabited only by specific fauna and flora adapted to
the Island conditions of weather. The French presence is expressed by the presence of a stele incorporating an information alongside a French flag and an annual inspection and maintenance visit carried out every year by a French
Navy frigate such as the Prairial taking into account international law relating to the status of the sea alongside the
maintenance of the French exclusive economic zone which allows France, signatory to several international treaties
concerning this area of the Pacific Ocean and particularly for so-called fisheries in addition to the fact that Clipperton
Island is located in an area for fishing particularly for tuna thus certifying that French sovereignty by a regular presence.
Closest to Nature in its Pure State
Integrated since 2007 under the Ministry for Overseas Territories, in parallel and particularly for the administrative formalities of the High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia, although the island is no longer part of this overseas territory but is only attached to it in terms of administrative management, the High Commissioner manages and grants, from Papeete, the various landing and stay permits on Clipperton Island, also including the granting of fishing rights in the exclusive economic zone around the island, in accordance with the validated treaties and accessible only by Zodiac- type boats, taking into account its limited landing conditions. "Clipperton the mysterious Island" as it
is also called by scientists and sailors who have come there, particularly over the last 25 years, to carry out missions and inspections, as was the case in 2004 and 2005 with an scientific expedition project led by Jean Louis Etienne and in
2015 with
the Passion 2015 mission
led by scientists from the University of French Polynesia,
this fascinating island, far removed from any human presence
It also contain a very particular flora characterized mainly by the presence of young coconut palm shoots and a very diverse fauna with the presence of c entipedes, cockroaches as well as ants and
files in addition to the famous red crab while also sheltering birds such as Masked Boobies with its largest colony in the world, Grant's Boobies, as well as Sooty Tern, American Coot, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, and other species migratory
birds stopping over on the island.
Located in the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by a vast maritime area, Clipperton also
has corals in its waters, mainly divided into 3 groups: the spawning corals which are great, the Pocillopora which have
very short branches and the Pavona which are more encrusting before crossing during scuba dives whitetip reef sharks
scalloped hammerhead sharks, or sharks of the Galapagos like being followed by long beaked dolphins or striped
dolphins, and also spotting lobsters and sea turtles, because Clipperton Island has the distinction of being a majestic place steeped with unusual encounters and magical colors expressing all that nature ha sto offer in its noblest form.
Report by : Gabriel PAGE
Photos credit : Gabriel PAGE / Getty Images
