Alborán Island
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.07 km2 (0.027 sq mi) |
| Country | |
| Province | Province of Almería |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 21 (military staff only) |
Coordinates: 35°56′N 03°02′W / 35.933°N 3.033°W
The Isla de Alborán is a small islet in the Alborán Sea, part of the western Mediterranean, about 50 km (31 mi) north of the Moroccan coast and 90 kilometres (56 miles) south of the Spanish province of Almería. A Spanish possession since 1540, it was taken from the Tunisian pirate 'Al Borani' in the Battle of Alborán. It is now home to a small Spanish Naval garrison and an automated lighthouse.
Description
The Isla de Alborán is a small islet in the Alborán Sea, part of the western Mediterranean, about 50 km (31 mi) north of the Moroccan coast and 90 km (56 mi) south of the province of Almería, Spain. The island is a flat platform about 15 metres (49 feet) above sea level and about 71,200 m2 (766,390.4 sq ft) in area.
100 m (328 ft) off the northeastern end of the island is the small islote de La Nube. (literally, island of the cloud).
The wall-rocket species Diplotaxis siettiana, called jaramago de Alborán in Spanish, has its only known wild population on this island. It was extinct there during much of the late 20th century, but successfully reintroduced from ex-situ conservation stocks in 1999.
History
Alborán has been known in error as "Albusama".[1]
A Spanish possession since 1540, it was taken from the Algerian Navy commander Ali Hamet in the Battle of Alborán.
Modern life
Today, the island administratively belongs to the city council (Spanish: ayuntamiento) of Almería and is part of the Almería Pescadería (fish market) district.
It is home today to a small Spanish Navy garrison and an automated lighthouse.
See also
References
- ↑ "Algunos cartógrafos de los últimos siglos han dado a Alboran el nombre de Albusama, confundiéndola con el pequeño islote costero cercano a la ciudad llamada tambien por ellos Albusama." (Marie Armand Pascal d'Avezac de Castera-Macaya, 1846. Historia de las islas de África p. 386); "Alhucema (Albusama): Pequeña isla del Mediterráneo , sobre la costa del reyno de Fez , en frente de la de Alhucema." (Antonio Vegas 1806. Diccionário geográfico universal, que comprende la descripción de las quatro partes del mundo, s.v. "Alhucema").