Punta de Tarifa is the southern tip of the town of Tarifa, located in the province of Cádiz, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, in Spain. The point lies on Isla de Las Palomas, a small island lying offshore and to the south of Tarifa. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway.
Punta de Tarifa is the southernmost point of the Iberian Peninsula and continental Europe. Situated at the narrowest part of the Strait of Gibraltar, it is just 14 km away from Africa. The coast of Morocco can be seen from this point. Punta de Tarifa is also the place where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Isla de Las Palomas, or the Island of Pigeons, was once home to a military base inhabited by the infantry and special operations company with as many as 3,000 men. Later the special operations company was moved off the island and instead it was used for training of recruits until 2001, when compulsory military service was abolished. With that, Isla de Las Palomas lost its military interest. In that same year, the island was declared of a historic site, which would promote the protection of historical and archaeological remains. Despite the protection status, the Island is now littered with buildings and structures in various states and an active lighthouse.
Satellite image of the town of Tarifa and Isla de Las Palomas
Sources: Wikipedia / TodoTarifa
A very good article with beautiful photos, as always!
ReplyDeletePunta de Tarifa might be the southernmost point of the continental Europe, but continent southernmost point is the Greek island Gavdos, located to the south of Crete.
Any island is off continent.
Delete