Clipperton Island History of Discovery

Clipperton Island History of Discovery. Ile de la Passion Environment and its Value. A Book on Clipperton Island. Clipperton Island, which is at times referred to as Ile de la Passion, was named after a pirate and now falls under the jurisdiction of the Republic of French Polynesia. A circular atoll with a completely enclosed lagoon, Clipperton is one of the less disturbed islands in the Pacific. Its lagoon is one of the most outstanding models of biological, biochemical, and geological processes in existence. Clipperton also serves as the sole nesting site for seabirds within several thousand square kilometers. Phosphate was mined on the island until 1917, and a small settlement impacted the island's ecosystems to some extent. Now uninhabited, it is hoped that the small island and its coral reef will be designated for protection as a scientific research site