Peñón de Alhucemas
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19th-century Spanish map showing the Peñón de Alhucemas |
Peñón de Alhucemas, or Lavender Rock, is one of the
Spanish enclaves in
North Africa off the
Moroccan coast, along with the coastal enclaves of
Ceuta and
Melilla, the island of
Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera,
Islas Chafarinas, and the small uninhabited island called
Isla Perejil.
Peñón de Alhucemas and the islets of "Isla de Mar" and "Isla de Tierra" slightly to the west form the Alhucemas Islands. They are located 300
m (984
feet) off the Moroccan town of
Al Hoceima or Alhucemas (former Villa Sanjurjo), 155
km (96
mi) east of Ceuta and 100 km (62 mi) west of Melilla.
The rock of Peñón de Alhucemas is a tiny island, 70 m by 50 m (230 feet by 165) in dimension, 27 m (88 feet) high. The rock is entirely occupied by a fort, several houses, and a church.
Isla de Mar is a flat, 4 m (12 feet) high islet. Isla de Tierra is a steep, 11 m (33 feet) high rocky platform.
Spanish rule dates back to
1559, when several parts of
Saadi Dynasty were given to Spain in exchange for help in defending it against
Ottoman armies. In
1673, Spain sent a garrison to the island of Peñón de Alhucemas, and it has been permanently occupied since. Today, the fort which is built on it hosts a 60 man Spanish military garrison.
The islands are also located near the landing place used by the Spanish and
French expeditionary forces in
1925, during the
Rif War.
Spanish sovereignty over the islands has been contested by
Morocco since its independence in
1956, but as the island is not mentioned in Morocco's Independency Text, it is still considered to be legally Spanish.
