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The Short History of the World’s Shortest Border
Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera is 85 meters long border between Spain and Marocco
Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera is a tiny peninsula on the coast of Morocco, situated in the Mediterranean Sea.
It used to be an island, but an earthquake in 1930 changed it into a peninsula.
Today, the peninsula is not particularly significant apart from being the location of the shortest international border. It is owned by Spain, and its border with Morocco spans only 85 meters (93 yards).
The only people living on the peninsula are Spanish soldiers who are resupplied by helicopters since it is not allowed to cross the border on foot.
There are almost no trees there, and the water is obtained through a small desalination plant.
In 2012, the tiny peninsula was at the center of an international incident when Moroccan nationalists climbed its cliffs trying to raise a Moroccan flag on it.
The Spanish government is considering demolishing the fortress since there is no strategic value to the Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera…
