A ''peñón'' (, "rock",
pl. ''peñones'') is a term for certain offshore rocky island forts established by the
Spanish Empire
The Spanish Empire, sometimes referred to as the Hispanic Monarchy (political entity), Hispanic Monarchy or the Catholic Monarchy, was a colonial empire that existed between 1492 and 1976. In conjunction with the Portuguese Empire, it ushered ...
(especially in
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
). Several are still part of the ''
plazas de soberanía
The (), meaning "strongholds of sovereignty", are a series of Spanish overseas territories scattered along the Mediterranean coast bordering Morocco, or that are closer to Africa than Europe. This term is used for those territories that have ...
'' ("places of sovereignty") of Spain in Northern Africa.
Quick facts
A peñón is as a mountain surrounded by water, usually by the sea. Among the most famous is the
Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera
() also known as Hajar Badis () is a Spanish exclave and rocky tidal island in the western Mediterranean Sea connected to the Moroccan shore by a sandy isthmus. It is also connected to a smaller islet to the east, La Isleta, by a rocky isthm ...
, off the coast of
Morocco
Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...
, still a Spanish territory to this day. There is also the
Peñón de Alhucemas
The Alhucemas Islands (, ) are a group of three islands off the coast of Al Hoceima in the Alboran Sea.
The islands are part of Spain's Plazas de soberanía and is under Spanish administration, however they are also claimed by Morocco as ...
nearby. The
Peñón of Algiers
Peñón of Algiers (, ) was a small islet off the coast of Algiers, fortified by the Kingdom of Spain during the 16th century. The islet was connected to the African continent to form a seawall and the harbour of Algiers.
History
In 1510 the ...
(''Peñón de Argel'') was established in 1510, when the Spaniards settled on a small island in front of
Algiers
Algiers is the capital city of Algeria as well as the capital of the Algiers Province; it extends over many Communes of Algeria, communes without having its own separate governing body. With 2,988,145 residents in 2008Census 14 April 2008: Offi ...
(modern
Algeria
Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...
), and forced the local ruler
Sālim al-Tūmī (Selim-bin-Teumi) to accept their presence through a treaty and pay tribute.
List of ''peñones''
*
Peñón de Ifach
Penyal d'Ifac Natural Park (, ) is a natural park (Spain), natural park situated in Calpe, in the Valencian Community, Spain.
The Penyal d'Ifac is a massive limestone outcrop emerging from the sea and linked to the shore by an isthmus of rock d ...
*
Peñón de Alhucemas
The Alhucemas Islands (, ) are a group of three islands off the coast of Al Hoceima in the Alboran Sea.
The islands are part of Spain's Plazas de soberanía and is under Spanish administration, however they are also claimed by Morocco as ...
*
Peñón de Argel
*
Peñón de Gibraltar (Rock of Gibraltar)
*
Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera
() also known as Hajar Badis () is a Spanish exclave and rocky tidal island in the western Mediterranean Sea connected to the Moroccan shore by a sandy isthmus. It is also connected to a smaller islet to the east, La Isleta, by a rocky isthm ...
Notes
Spanish Empire
{{fort-stub