An autonomous Spanish city in continental AfricaCeuta and the larger Spanish territory of Melilla that is some 400 kilometers (250 miles) east, are located on the northern shores of the Mediterranean coast at the tip of Africa. Morocco does not officially recognize Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish territory, and often refers to them as occupied lands. Many migrants who reach Ceuta or Melilla are immediately turned back, while others held in migrant shelters are processed and can apply for asylum in Spain. To reach Ceuta, migrants often swim from the Moroccan town of Fnideq, covering about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) to reach Spanish territory. Still, migrant arrivals to Ceuta and Melilla are generally much lower than those reaching Spain through the Canary and Balearic Islands.