SPANISH SAHARA Meaning and
Definition
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Spanish Sahara refers to the historical name for an area located in the western part of the African continent. It was a region that was under Spanish colonial rule for a significant period of time. Spanning from the late 19th century until 1975, Spanish Sahara encompassed a vast territory that included parts of present-day Western Sahara, as well as smaller portions of Mauritania and Morocco.
Known as "Sahara Español" in Spanish, the territory derived its name from its geographical location in the Sahara desert, the largest hot desert in the world. Spanish involvement in this region began in the late 19th century when Spain gradually established control over various coastal and interior areas through treaties and agreements with local tribal leaders.
During its colonial rule, Spain sought to exploit the region's natural resources, particularly phosphates and fish. Spanish Sahara also became a strategic location for Spain due to its proximity to important shipping routes.
However, in the mid-20th century, movements for independence started to gain momentum in the region, primarily led by the Polisario Front. The struggle for self-determination intensified, leading to armed conflict between the Polisario Front and both the Spanish colonial administration and later the governments of Morocco and Mauritania. In 1975, Spain withdrew from Spanish Sahara, leaving it to be disputed and subsequently divided between Morocco and Mauritania.
Today, the territory remains a subject of dispute between Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), the self-proclaimed government-in-exile of the Sahrawi people.
Common Misspellings for SPANISH SAHARA
- apanish sahara
- zpanish sahara
- xpanish sahara
- dpanish sahara
- epanish sahara
- wpanish sahara
- soanish sahara
- slanish sahara
- s-anish sahara
- s0anish sahara
- spznish sahara
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- spwnish sahara
- spqnish sahara
- spabish sahara
- spamish sahara
- spajish sahara
- spahish sahara
- spanush sahara
Etymology of SPANISH SAHARA
The word "Sahara" comes from the Arabic word "ṣaḥra" which means "desert". It refers to the vast desert region in North Africa that spans several countries. "Spanish Sahara" is a term that was used to describe the territory that was colonized and administered by Spain in present-day Western Sahara during the late 19th and 20th centuries. The term simply denotes the geographical location of the territory and the colonial power that controlled it.
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