Chafarinas Islands

The Islas Chafarinas are a politically Spanish owned island group about 50 km to the east of Melilla and just four kilometers located on the Moroccan coast before Ras el Ma. The archipelago, which is a plaza de soberanía, comprises the islands of Isla Isabel II, Isla del Congreso and Isla del Rey (Francisco ). The total area of the islands is 52 ha

Geography

• Isla del Congreso: On the largest island of the archipelago is a prison, but which is no longer used. The Cerro Nido de las Aguilas is with a height of 137 meters, the highest elevation of the island group.
• Isla Isabel II: The only inhabited island of the archipelago is home to a military base. Apart from the military buildings there is a church, built 1851-1853.
• Isla del Rey: The third island of the archipelago has an area of ​​about 12 acres, is a nature reserve and is not inhabited.

Population

On the islands there is no civilian population; only on Isla Isabel II is a small military station.

History

The islands were captured on January 6, 1848 by the Spanish, in a race against a French military expedition which reached the archipelago, with only a few hours later. You are now equipped with a garrison, a small harbor and lighthouse, also a bird sanctuary. The name comes from the Berber language and Chafarinas roughly means islands of the pirates.