Clarion Island is the second biggest island in the Revillagigedo Archipelago, which lies approximately 240 kilometers west of Socorro Island. It features three volcanic peaks and a rocky landscape with towering cliffs. The island is home to specific marine fauna, in large part because of its geological traits and geographical area, attracting species from both the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California.
Socorro Island hosts several manta rays, dolphins, hammerhead sharks, and plenty of whitetip sharks resting on the reefs. On this island which is the farthest from the Mexican mainland, a permanent naval detachment is tasked with preventing its seizure.
Map of Clarion Island
| Name | Clarion Island (Spanish:Ā Isla ClariĆ³n) |
| Country | Mexico |
| State | Colima |
| Coordinates | 18Ā°21ā²30ā³NĀ 114Ā°43ā²30ā³W |
| Area | 19.8Ā km2Ā (7.6Ā sqĀ mi) |
| Time zone | UTCā7 |
| Population | 9 |
| Airport | N/A |
History of Clarion Island
At the end of 1542, the Spanish navigator Ruy LĆ³pez de Villalobos visited Clarion Island, but the Spaniards had long not noted the archipelago. Joris van Spilbergen witnessed the whole archipelago in December 1615, but neither Spain nor its American colonies were regarded to take notice of this discovery.
On August 21, 1721, the British privateer George Shelvocke aboard the Speedwell rediscovered Clarion Island.
The island's name can be traced back to around 1820 when it was named after the American brig "Clarion," which became engaged in exchange within the North Pacific.
In 1994, the Revillagigedo Archipelago inclusive of Clarion Island was declared a nature reserve, marking giant progress inside the conservation records of the archipelago. In 2017, the Mexican federal government declared it a countrywide park and increased the marine included regions surrounding the islands.
Flora and Fauna on Clarion Island
Clarion Island boasts a wide variety of terrestrial and marine plants and fauna at a high organic price, with some species precise to the arena. On land, besides the plentiful reptile, mammal, and bug fauna, there are endemic plant types critical for keeping ecological balance. The marine area functions with various algae, corals, annelids, echinoderms, crustaceans, whales, orcas, dolphins, sharks, and several finned fish species.
Clarion Island's plants are as evolved as that of Socorro Island, including coastal halophytes, croton and guajillo shrubs, sapodilla thickets, fig trees, chaptalize shrubs, grasslands, cacti, and ironwood groves. Notable fauna encompasses sheep, parakeets, purple-tailed hawks, massive lizards, and diverse reptiles and insects. The marine flowers and fauna contain algae, grasses, mammals, crustaceans, mollusks, sharks, and fish.
Scuba Diving on Clarion Island
The Clarion Island is a really perfect spot for diving. One of its specific functions is the frequent look of trumpetfish, named so for being indigenous to those islands. These are brilliant fish adorned with shiny blue stripes of their kids that fade as they mature. It's common to identify adults cleansing parasites off batfish that come to this parasitic island.
