The Chafarinas Islands are an archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea , located 3.5 km north of the town of Ras Kebdana (on the coast of Morocco ). This small archipelago is made up of three islands: Congress Island, Isabel II and King Francisco.
It is located 27 km southeast of Melilla , a Moroccan city held by the Kingdom of Spain since the 18th century.
Summary
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- 1 Population
- 2 Geography
- 3 History
- 4 Sources
Population
The islands lack a stable population. On the island Isabel II there is a small military garrison belonging to the Tercio Gran Capitán 1º of the Melilla Legion, made up of about 30 people under the command of a lieutenant, as well as personnel from Transmissions and the Sea Company, adding to the 30 military, a team of civilians on behalf of the National Parks Autonomous Organization (former ICONA) of the Spanish Ministry of the Environment.
Geography
It is made up of three islands of volcanic origin: Congress Island, the largest and most western, rises in surface to 137 m, which also makes it the highest of the three. Its rocky and rugged coasts, mostly impassable, make it an ideal refuge for many species.
History
They have belonged to Spain since January 6, 1848, the day they were occupied by the expedition sent under the command of General Serrano, under the reign of Isabel II, with several warships from Malaga. Until then they had been uninhabited lands of Morocco.