Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2015 9:20:03 GMT -5
The Spanish Sahara (in NW Africa, opposite the Canary Islands) was originally named Rio de Oro - "river of gold" - because inhabitants traded gold dust with Portuguese explorers who thought the gold came from the territory, though in fact it came from further south. In 1885 Spain declared the area a Spanish protectorate, overseen by the Captain-General of the Canaries. In 1901 it became a Spanish colony, though the boundaries were disputed with France until 1912. In 1924 the name was changed to Spanish Sahara. In 1975-6 Spain gave up the colony and it was divided between Morocco and Mauritania.
