Clipperton Island, The Tragic Story Behind a Remote Island Fought Over by Many Countries

The remote Clipperton Island in the Pacific Ocean holds a dark history, tales of power struggles and terrible tragedies that have earned it the nickname ‘Hell in Paradise’ despite its abundant marine wealth potential.

Clipperton Island may sound foreign to many people, and that’s not surprising. This small, uninhabited island is rarely talked about because it does not have any special tourist attractions.

Clipperton Island is located in the eastern Pacific Ocean with an area of only 8.9 km². If measured from Paris, the distance reaches 10,677 km.

This island has a circular shape resembling a ring with a lagoon in the middle. Unfortunately, the lagoon cannot accommodate fish because the water is eutrophic, meaning it has a very high nitrogen, phosphorus and mineral content.

This condition makes Clipperton Island often nicknamed “Scab of an Island” or “Island of Ulcers”, because of the harsh and inhospitable environment.

The island is only covered with vines and coconut trees. The only permanent inhabitants are orange crabs and seabirds that fill most of the island’s area.

Clipperton Island: A Battle for the Big Countries

Although barren and unattractive, Clipperton Island was once fought over by several large countries such as Mexico, France, England and the United States.

The reason? The island was strategically located for shipping lanes and was rich in guano — seabird droppings high in phosphate and used as a valuable fertilizer at the time.

During the rainy season, a pungent ammonia odor often arises due to the piles of guano that fill the atoll area.

Clipperton Island was first discovered in 1520 by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. Then, in 1711, France discovered and claimed the island as part of its territory.

However, in 1821, Mexico seized Clipperton Island, only to have it reclaimed by France during the reign of Napoleon III. It did not stop there, the United States also filed a claim to this island in 1892 on the basis of the Guano Islands Act.

At that time, guano was considered a very valuable fertilizer, making Clipperton Island a target for major countries.

Clipperton in the Present Day: A French Remote Territory

After years of dispute, Clipperton Island finally officially became an overseas territory of France.

Although it currently has no major economic value, the existence of Clipperton Island gives France the right to an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 425,000 km².

This area is equivalent in size to Paraguay and includes one of the richest fishing areas in the world, especially as a location for abundant tuna fishing.

Interestingly, France actually allows Mexican fishing vessels to operate in the area through a special agreement.

Clipperton Island: The Tragic Tale of ‘Hell in Paradise’

Although now uninhabited, Clipperton Island was once home to a group of people who relied on food supplies from Mexican ships.

At that time, these ships regularly came bringing food and necessities, making this island feel like a ‘paradise’ for its inhabitants.

However, in the early 20th century, Mexico experienced political turmoil that caused food supplies to stop being shipped to Clipperton Island.

This situation resulted in the population’s condition worsening. Their leader, Captain Arnaud, tries to save his people by sending one coconut every week to the women and children.

To survive, the inhabitants began hunting seabirds and catching crabs. Unfortunately, many of them end up falling ill due to malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies.

Two Versions of the Captain Arnaud Tragedy

There are two versions of the story circulating about the fate of Captain Arnaud and his followers:

The first version states that Arnaud saw a ship passing in the distance and tried to row with several residents to approach the ship. However, the boat they were on capsized, causing Arnaud and the villagers to drown.

The second version says that Arnaud and several residents tried to row towards a ship that was visible in the distance. However, strong ocean currents caused their boat to crash into the reef, killing all on board.

The Tragic Story of Victoriano Alvarez: The ‘Cruel King’ of Clipperton Island

After the tragedy that killed Captain Arnaud, only 15 women and a man named Victoriano Alvarez, who was the lighthouse keeper on Clipperton Island, remained.

Instead of protecting them, Alvarez instead appointed himself as ‘king’ on the island.

Cruelly, he ruled over women, forcing them to become slaves to his lust, and committing horrific acts of violence.

Alvarez’s reign ended in 1917, when one of the remaining women dared to stand up to him and killed the tyrant.

The Rescue That Shocked the World

Shortly after Alvarez’s death, an American ship docked at Mauritius Island and found the survivors in dire condition: emaciated, weak, and malnourished.

Despite their dire conditions, happiness is evident as they are finally free from their dark times on the island.

Clipperton Post World War II

During World War II, the United States established a military base and weather monitoring center on Clipperton Island in 1944.

However, after the war ended, the island was again empty without inhabitants and was left abandoned until now.

Clipperton Island Today

Today, Clipperton Island is known as one of the most remote areas in the world. Without adequate care, the island’s environment continues to deteriorate due to pollution and ecosystem damage.

Even though it is no longer inhabited, the tragic stories that once happened on this island continue to be told from generation to generation as valuable lessons.

Valuable Lessons from Clipperton Island

Clipperton Island proves how greed and the struggle for power can bring deep suffering.

This island reminds us that behind the beautiful sea panorama and blue sky, there can be a dark story hidden that touches the heart.

Clipperton’s history teaches that humanity and caring for others are far more valuable than ephemeral material wealth.