The Chafarinas Islands, also spelled Zafarin, Djaferin or Zafarani, are a group of three small Spanish islets located in the Alboran Sea off the coast of Morocco with an aggregate area of 0.525 square kilometres (0.203 sq mi), 45 km (28.0 mi) to the east of Nador and 3.3 km (2.1 mi) off the Moroccan town of Ras Kebdana.
Chafarinas Islands viewed from Morocco
Image: Chafarinas
Islas Chafarinas as seen from Cabo de Agua
Audouin's gull, a Vulnerable species breeding on the islands
The Alboran Sea is the westernmost portion of the Mediterranean Sea, lying between the Iberian Peninsula and the north of Africa. The Strait of Gibraltar, which lies at the west end of the Alboran Sea, connects the Mediterranean with the Atlantic Ocean.
Alboran Sea
A satellite image centred on the Alboran Sea. To the left, the Iberian Peninsula, and to the right, the north of Africa.