Alboran Island facts for kids
 |
|
 Alborán
Location in Spain
Alborán
Location in Andalusia
|
|
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Alboran Sea |
| Coordinates | 35°56′22″N 03°02′07″W / 35.93944°N 3.03528°W |
| Area | 0.07 km2 (0.027 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Province | Province of Almería |
| Municipality | Almería |
| Demographics | |
| Population | military staff only |
Alboran Island, known as Isla de Alborán in Spanish, is a tiny island belonging to Spain. It sits in the Alboran Sea, which is part of the western Mediterranean Sea. This small island is about 56 kilometers (35 miles) north of the Moroccan coast. It is also about 85 kilometers (53 miles) from the Spanish mainland. On the island, you'll find an old lighthouse, a small cemetery, and a harbor.
Contents
What is Alboran Island Like?
Alboran Island is quite flat, rising only about 15 meters (49 feet) above the sea. Its total area is about 71,200 square meters (17.6 acres). Just 100 meters (328 feet) off the northeastern tip of the island is a smaller islet. This tiny islet is called islote de La Nube, which means "islet of the cloud."
Nature and Wildlife on Alboran
How the Island Was Formed
Alboran Island was created by volcanoes. It is located in an area where the Earth's plates are moving and crashing together. This causes many earthquakes. In 1899, a new type of rock was found on Alboran. It was named alboranite in honor of the island.
Important Birds and Plants
The island is a very important place for birds. It has been named an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International. Many Audouin's gulls, a type of seabird, come here to lay their eggs. Other small birds also stop here during their long journeys.
Alboran is also home to a special plant called Diplotaxis siettiana. In Spanish, it's known as jaramago de Alborán. This plant grows only on this island. For a while, it disappeared, but scientists successfully brought it back in 1999.
Protecting the Island
In 2001, the United Nations declared Alboran Island and the waters around it a Specially Protected Area. This means it is a very important place to protect nature in the Mediterranean Sea.
History of Alboran Island
Early History
Long ago, Alboran Island was a base for a famous sailor named Mustafa ben Yusuf al Mahmud ed Din. He was known for his strong attacks, so people called him Al-Borani. This name meant "thunderstorm" in Turkish, and that's how the island got its name.
Becoming Spanish Territory
Alboran Island became a Spanish possession after a big sea battle in 1540. This battle was called the Battle of Alboran. Since then, it has belonged to Spain.
Modern Times
In 1899, a royal person named Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria visited the island. He even wrote a book about it with pictures. In 1963, the Spanish army placed a group of Spanish Navy Marines on the island. They are still there today to control and protect the island.
How the Island is Managed
Alboran Island has been part of the municipality of Almería since the 1800s.
See also
In Spanish: Isla de Alborán para niños
