Gibraltar is a tiny British colony that is a rock just three miles long, half a mile wide, and 1,369 feet high. It dominates the straits between Spain and Morocco (De Galan 394). Gibraltar is located at 36ºN latitude and 5ºW longitude (Maiques 15). It is a narrow peninsula on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula (Constable 93). Gibraltar is linked to the mainland by a narrow isthmus and is isolated above the surrounding countryside (GibNet Limited 1).

Gibraltar is named for Tarik ibn Zeyad, an Arabic ruler. His men named the rock Jabal Tarik that means “Mount Tarik” in Arabic. Since then the name has been shortened to Gibraltar (Constable 52). Gibraltar is often called El Peñon by the Spaniards, which means “The Large Rock” (Michener 546). The Rock of Gibraltar has always been a fortress (GibNet Limited 2).

A combination of geographical location, climate and a unique history, together with the preservation of area of habitat, has made the Rock of Gibraltar a tiny paradise for wildlife. The Rock of Gibraltar is made up of limestone. It has over 140 caves. Many prehistoric relics have been found in Gibraltar’s caves. The first Neanderthal-type skull is among the relics (GibNet Limited 1,6).

The Rock’s most famous “residents” are the Barbary Apes. The are the only wild primates in all of Europe. The Apes are a species of tailless monkeys called Barbary Macaques. There are about 160 monkeys living in Gibraltar. Around twenty of them are residing in the Apes’ Den. The rest live in the Great Siege area and cannot be observed closely. The responsibility of the monkeys is a job for the government of Gibraltar (GibNet Limited 3-5).

A large area of the Rock has been designated as a nature reserve. Gibraltar has an abundance of plant life on the Rock. Two species, Gibraltar Candytuft and Gibraltar Sea Lavender, are named after the Rock. The Alameda gardens, Gibraltar’s famous public park, is a botanical garden. Each spring and autumn, hundreds of thousands of birds migrate to the Rock. The seas around Gibraltar are full of sea life. Schools of leaping dolphin and flying fish are often seen at Gibraltar. Gibraltar is the key to a rich, diverse, and fascinating world of nature (GibNet Limited 3).

Gibraltar has witnessed many changes over the centuries as a vigil at the intersection of two continents and the meeting point of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean (GibNet Limited 6). Gibraltar, in ancient times, was one of the two Pillars of Hercules, which marked the western reaches of the known world (De Galan 394). After the Pillars of Hercules perished, the two mountains on either side of the Strait retained the names Calpe and Abyla (GibNet Limited 9). In ancient times the Rock of Gibraltar was an immense natural landmark for sea navigators (Cross 54). The Romans first recorded the existence of the Rock of Gibraltar. The Phoenicians were the first people to claim Gibraltar. The Romans were the next to occupy the area. Gibraltar has been besieged fifteen times (GibNet Limited 6, 9-10). Gibraltar’s position at the entrance of the Mediterranean resulted in its seizure by the Moors in 711. After 750 years of Moorish rule, the Spaniards captured Gibraltar. The English seized the Rock in 1704, and it was ceded to Great Britain in 1713 (De Galan 394). The Treaty of Utrecht ceded Gibraltar to Great Britain. This treaty had many provisions. According to the treaty, Great Britain was only allowed to occupy the area immediately adjacent to the Rock. England was also never allowed to bring Jews or Muslims into Gibraltar, but they failed to comply with this rule (Michener 545, 546). When the English captured Gibraltar, only sixty Spanish soldiers guarded it (Lloyd 223). Since the English capture, Gibraltar has remained relatively peaceful with a few exceptions (De Galan 394). The British still feel unable to give Gibraltar back to Spain because the majority of the Gibraltarians desire to remain under British rule (Constable 35, 36).

Gibraltar served as an important naval and air base to the Allies during the two world wars (De Galan 394). Gibraltar was a key point in anti-submarine campaigns. The post-war years were marked by expansion and progress. Gibraltar “underground” was created during the Second World War. It developed as miles of tunnels and chambers were dug out of the limestone. An underground city was created as a result. The city had its own electricity supply, telephone exchange, frozen meat store, water distillery, bakery, and hospital. During WWII Gibraltar was transformed into an airfield (GibNet Limited 7, 8).

Tourism in Gibraltar is slowly increasing. Millions of dollars are being invested in Gibraltar to develop the Rock’s tourist potential (De Galan 394, 395). Beaches west of Gibraltar are especially good for windsurfing. Windsurfers from all over the world travel there in search of the thrills of the Atlantic waves (Chicoine 49).

Gibraltar forms the Eastern Shore of a bay that has had commercial importance for a long time (GibNet Limited 9). Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade and offshore banking. Major industries in Gibraltar include: tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; light manufacturing of tobacco, coffee, ice, mineral water, candy, beer, and canned fish. Currency in Gibraltar is measured in pounds. The exchange rate of Gibraltar pounds per US $1 is .635 (Coutsoukis 1-3).

Since Gibraltar is a dependent territory of the UK, it has no diplomatic representation in the US. Queen Elizabeth II, the chief of state, heads Gibraltar’s executive branch of government. The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. The legislative branch is unicameral. It includes a House of Assembly. Some political parties include the Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party, Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights, Gibraltar Social Democrats, and the Gibraltar National Party. Gibraltar’s flag has two horizontal bands of white and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band. Citizens eighteen years of age may vote. Other UK subjects that have been residents for six months of more may also vote. Defense is the responsibility of the UK (Coutsoukis 4-7).

As of July 1995, the population of Gibraltar was 31,874. 63% of the population in Gibraltar is between the ages of fifteen and sixty-four years. The life expectancy rate is 76.61 years. 74% of the population is Roman Catholic. 11% is Protestant, 8% is Moslem, and 2% is Jewish. The labor force in Gibraltar includes 14,800 people. UK military establishments and civil governments employ nearly 50% of the labor force. The English language is used in schools and for official purposes; but Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Russian are also spoken (Coutsoukis 8-9).

Gibraltar enjoys a good communication system. There are 9,400 telephones in Gibraltar. There are six FM radio stations and one AM radio station. Four broadcast television stations are found in the area (Coutsoukis 10).

Gibraltar has grown greatly since its first census was taken in 1777. The total number of civilians was 3,201 (GibNet Limited 2). Several factors contribute to this growth. Gibraltar enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers. A narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock. Gibraltar’s location on the southern coast of Spain may also affect growth. This growth has taken place over 6.5 square kilometers of area. Gibraltar is about eleven times the size of the mall area in Washington, D.C. (Coutsoukis 11-12).

In conclusion, Gibraltar is very important to Europe and the rest of the world. It serves as an important port, tourist attraction, and haven for plants and animals. It also plays an important part in our world’s history

WORKS CITED

Chicoine, Stephen. Spain: Bridge between Continents. New York: Benchmark Books, 1997.

Constable, George. Library of Nations: Spain. Amsterdam: Time-Life Books, 1986.

Coutsoukis, Photius. “Gibraltar”. ABC Interactive World Fact Book. http://www.theodora.com/wfb/abc_world_fact_book.html (27 April 1999).

Cross, Esther. Spain. Chicago: Children’s Press, 1985.

De Galan, Suzanne. Fodor’s ’93 Spain. New York: Fodor’s Travel Publications, Inc., 1992.

GibNet Limited. “Gibraltar Home Page”. http://www.gibraltar.gi (27 April 1999).

Lloyd, Allen. The Spanish Centuries. New York: Doubleday and Company, Inc., 1968.

Maiques, Gines M. Life in Europe: Spain. Grand Rapids: The Fideler Company, 1970.

Michener, James A. Iberia. New York: Random House, 1968.