Isla de Isabel II

Isabel II Island

Disputed island
File:Isla de Isabel II desde el cabo de Agua.jpg The island as seen from the Moroccan coast.
Geography
Location	Alboran Sea
Coordinates
Archipelago	Chafarinas Islands
Area	0.153 km2 (0.059 sq mi)
Highest elevation	35 m (115 ft)
Administration
Spain
Claimed by
Morocco

Isabel II Island (Spanish: Isla de Isabel II) is the central island of the Chafarinas Islands, in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is a part of Spain's Plazas de soberanía and is under Spanish control, however it is also claimed by Morocco as part of its territory alongside other Spanish overseas territories in Northern Africa. It is located only 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away from the North-African shore, in front of the Moroccan town of Ras Kebdana. Its area is 0.153 km² (15.3 ha), and there is a military base and a church.

Name

The name of the island comes from Isabella II, Queen of Spain from 1833 to 1868.

Geography

Displaying a rounded shape, it has a total area of 0.153 square kilometres (0.059 sq mi). Substantially flatter than the Isla del Congreso, it reaches a maximum height of 35 metres above sea level.

History

File:Iglesia de la Purísima Concepción (Chafarinas) en 1893.jpg

The church and other buildings as depicted in La Ilustración Española y Americana in 1893.

Archeological remains found in the island suggest the existence of an outpost intended for sheltering ships by the 1st century BC, a time when the North-African coastline thrived during the reign of Juba II.

Along with the other two islands of the archipelago (Isla del Rey and Isla del Congreso), it was occupied in 1848 by Spain, that alleged terra nullius, anticipating French intentions to do the same from Algeria. General Francisco Serrano took possession of the islands bringing two ships from Málaga.

The work of conditioning the island of Isabel II suffered a major setback after the passing of a strong storm in March 1849. Then the question arose of whether the stay in the archipelago was worth it or not.

Between 1910 and 1915 the island was connected through a dike with the Isla del Rey.

Electric lighting was installed on the island in 1922.

Population

The island is the only inhabited island of the archipelago. It currently hosts a military garrison with personnel from the Ministry of Environment of Spain, as the islands are a National Reserve protected because of the wealth of their natural species.