It’s named for English pirate John Clipperton, who used it as a hideout within the early 18th century. Land elevations average 6.6 feet, though a tiny low volcanic outcrop on its southeast side rises to 95 feet, considerably higher and is mentioned as “Clipperton Rock”. The republic is headed up for life by Lary Stover.
At low water, the encircling reef becomes exposed. This rock’s existence means that Clipperton is technically not an atoll, but an island with a barrier reef. Clipperton contains a ring-shaped atoll which completely encloses a lagoon 7.5 miles in circumference. The rim averages 490 feet wide, reaching 1,300 feet. Sea waves occasionally spill over into the lagoon. With average temperatures of 20–32 ° C (68–90 ° F), it has a tropical oceanic climate. |
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