 Spain established colonies in North Africa that ranged from the Atlantic Moroccan coast to Tripoli in Libya.Melilla was occupied in 1497, Oran in 1509, Larache in 1610, and Ceuta was annexed from the Portuguese in 1668.Today, both Ceuta and Melilla still remain under Spanish control, together with smaller islets known as the "presidios menores" (Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, las Islas de Alhucemas, las Islas de Chafarinas).