By Jessica Pierné.
In the heart of the Pacific Ocean, more than 1,200 kilometers from the Mexican coast, lies hidden ClippertonClipperton, a tiny and mysterious atoll. This isolated piece of land, barely larger than a French village, has been French property since the 19th century. Here, nature reigns supreme: white sand, turquoise lagoon, and abundant marine life that seems to defy climate change. But Clipperton is also a place steeped in history. At the beginning of the 20th century, Mexican families were sent to live and work there. They faced absolute isolation, hunger, storms, and loneliness. They were abandoned, or rather forgotten, on this Pacific island. Today, this remote corner of the world remains a symbol of resilience, adventure, and fascination that still attracts scientists and a few military teams.
The Forgotten of Clipperton
This island is not paradise. At the beginning of the 20th century, a small Mexican colony consisting of a dozen soldiers, their wives and children was forgotten on Clipperton Island. For over three years, they struggled to survive, cut off from the world. On July 18, 1917, an American ship approached and decided to attempt a landing, believing it to be a German rear base. The lieutenant and the ship's doctor boarded a lifeboat and reached the island with difficulty. On the shore, they found themselves facing a most unexpected welcoming committee. Standing on the sand, three women, dressed in sailcloth, collapsed at the sight of the two men and begged them to take them off the island. The three women and their eight children were the only survivors of this small colony. Of course, they hadn't seen any Germans, and the survivors didn't even know there was a war in Europe. The island became deserted once more.
Treasure Island
An English pirate named John Clipperton stayed there for a few days at the end of the 17th century. Today, the island bears his name. According to legend, the privateer buried a fabulous treasure there. No document has been found to confirm this visit, but the buccaneer's name has remained.
Clipperton's biodiversity
The island is a unique sanctuary for seabirds. It is home to an impressive colony of Masked Boobies, recognizable by their elegant black masks. Here, they fear nothing and feed mainly on fish and squid.
The explorer returns to Clipperton, twenty years later
Lost in the heart of the Eastern Pacific, Clipperton rises like a mineral mirage: a fiercely isolated ring of coral, unique in this part of the world. A forgotten sanctuary, it remains one of the least altered island ecosystems on the planet. This rarity makes it a scientific treasure as well as a natural heritage of inestimable value. In 2005, Jean-Louis Etienne, his wife Elsa Pény-Etienne, and their two children spent four months on Clipperton Island studying its biodiversity. Twenty years later, the 79-year-old explorer and his wife have returned to the mysterious atoll to assess its current state. This new scientific mission rests on three pillars: the expanded marine protected area to preserve the feeding grounds of the birds that inhabit the island and are home to the world's largest population of masked boobies; the eradication of rats from the island, as the arrival of rats following the grounding of a fishing boat seriously threatens the ecosystem; and the observation of marine debris, particularly microplastics.
A highly coveted strategic territory
This tiny, uninhabited, windswept atoll, just a few square kilometers in size, is one of France's most strategic territories. A paradox that has fascinated diplomats, military personnel, and scientists for decades. Because Clipperton is not just a lost piece of land: it is a exclusive economic zone of 435,000 km², a maritime empire larger than Italy, where France holds sovereign rights. Beneath these rich, deep waters lie valuable fish stocks, potentially coveted mineral resources, and an ideal position for monitoring the Eastern Pacific. From this tiny point on the map, France extends its influence in a region where maritime routes between America and Asia intersect, in an ocean that has become the epicenter of 21st-century geopolitical tensions. Thus, behind its deserted appearance, Clipperton becomes a strategic prize: ecological, geopolitical, economic and strategicA coral pearl which, despite its isolation, remains carefully guarded.
TRAVEL DIARY:
GO THERE: Aboard the sailing ship Persévérance, you can reach Clipperton Atoll on a 13-day cruise departing from Paris or Manzanillo. Expeditions start from €11.800. This unique voyage allows you to follow in the footsteps of explorer Jean-Louis Etienne, participate in a scientific mission, sail aboard a legendary vessel, and enjoy a unique experience in an intimate setting.
