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Peñón de Alhucemas, or Lavender Rock, is one of the Spanish territories in North Africa off the Moroccan coast, along with the coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, the island of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, Islas Chafarinas, and the small island called Isla Perejil.
Peñón de Alhucemas and the islets of Isla de Mar and Isla de Tierra slightly to the west form the Alhucemas Islands. They are located 300 m (984 feet) off the Moroccan town of Al Hoceima or Alhucemas (former Villa Sanjurjo), 155 km (96 mi) east of Ceuta and 100 km (62 mi) west of Melilla.
The rock of Peñón de Alhucemas is a tiny island, 70 m by 50 m (230 feet by 165) in dimension, 27 m (88 feet) high. The rock is entirely occupied by a fort, several houses, and a church.
Isla de Mar is a flat, 4 m (12 feet) high islet. Isla de Tierra is a steep, 11 m (33 feet) high rocky platform.
Spanish rule dates back to 1559, when several parts of Morocco were given to Spain in exchange for help in defending it against Turkish armies. In 1673 Spain sent a garrison to the island of Peñón de Alhucemas, and it has been permanently occupied since. Today the fort which is built on it hosts a 60 man Spanish military garrison.
The islands are also located near the landing place used by the Spanish and French expeditionary forces in 1925, during the Rif War.
Spanish sovereignty over the islands has been contested by Morocco since its independence, but as the island is not mentioned in Morocco's Independency Text, it is legally Spanish.es:Peñón de Alhucemas