Islas Chafarinas
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19th-century Spanish map showing the "Chafarinas" |
Islas Chafarinas is a group of three small
islands located in the
Mediterranean Sea off the coast of
Morocco, 48
km (30
mi) to the east of
Melilla and 3.5 km (2.17 mi) off the Moroccan town of Ra'su l-Ma'. Islas Chafarinas are one of the
Spanish territories on North Africa off the Moroccan coast (
Plazas de soberanía), along with the coastal enclaves of
Ceuta and Melilla, the islands of
Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera and
Peñón de Alhucemas, and the small disputed islet of
Isla Perejil.
Islas Chafarinas are made up of 3 islands: Isla del Congreso, Isla de Isabel II (also called Isla de la Conquista) and Isla del Rey. Under Spanish control since
1847, there is a 190 man military garrison on Isla del Congreso.
In
1900, 426 people lived on the islands; in
1910, 736 people lived on the islands. The Islas Chafarinas are the
Tres Insulæ of the ancients.
