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"Gibraltar." Geography, Europe, Q-files Encyclopedia, 10 Feb. 2022.
https://www.q-files.com/geography/europe/gibraltar.
Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.
Gibraltar 2022. Geography, Europe. Retrieved 19 March 2024, from
https://www.q-files.com/geography/europe/gibraltar
Geography, Europe, s.v. "Gibraltar," accessed March 19, 2024.
https://www.q-files.com/geography/europe/gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is an overseas territory belonging to Britain. It has its own government and makes its own laws, but Britain is responsible for its foreign affairs and defence. It has a strategic location on the Strait of Gibraltar, a narrow strip of water at the western entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. Nearly all of Gibraltar is squashed on to a tiny peninsula bordering the southern tip of Spain called the Rock of Gibraltar, which rises steeply from the sea. Only the western part is flat enough to build on; here, the town of Gibraltar lies surrounded by forts and a harbour. Gibraltar has a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot, sunny summers.
People
People from Gibraltar are called Gibraltarians—although they call themselves “Llanitos”. Their language, Llanito, is made up of a mixture of Spanish and English words, along with some borrowed from Maltese, Portuguese and Hebrew. Most Gibraltarians are descended from British and other European migrants who arrived after 1704, when the British captured the Rock. Because there is so little space on Gibraltar, the city has to be built upwards and nearly everyone lives in apartments.
Economy
Gibraltar’s main industry is tourism. Over 11 million people visit the Rock every year, many stopping off as part of a cruise. Gibraltar earns a lot of its money from the shipping trade, as well as from foreign companies who use its banks and base their financial headquarters there.
Barbary macaques
The Rock of Gibraltar is too steep for people to build and live on. Instead, most of the upper part has been made into a nature reserve and is home to around 300 Barbary macaques, kinds of tailless monkeys (also known as Barbary apes, although they are not apes). It is the only wild monkey population in Europe. The macaques have become so tame that they will often approach or climb on humans.
Since 1991, the macaques have been looked after by the Government of Gibraltar. An old folktale warns that when the monkeys disappear from the Rock, so will the British.
Consultant: Nicholas Harris
Facts about Gibraltar
Population 34,571
Area 6.5 sq km
Highest point Rock of Gibraltar 426 m (1398 ft)
Capital Gibraltar, population 32,194
Languages English, Spanish, Llanito
Religions Christian (Roman Catholic) 78%, Christian (Church of England) 7%, other Christian 3%, Muslim 4%, Jewish 2%, others and none 6%
Ethnicity Gibraltarian 83%, British 10%, Moroccan 4%, Spanish 1%, other European 2%
Currency Gibraltar pound (GIP)
Chief exports petroleum
History of Gibraltar
950 BC
The Phoenicians are the first known people to settle on Gibraltar
711
During his conquest of Spain, Muslim Berber general Tariq Ibn-Ziyad lands on Gibraltar and captures it
1462
A group of Spanish Christians recaptures Gibraltar from the Moors
1501
Control of Gibraltar passes to the Spanish Queen Isabella I
1704
During the War of the Spanish Succession, English and Dutch forces capture Gibraltar
1713
At the Treaty of Utrecht, Spain cedes control of Gibraltar to Britain
1830
Gibraltar becomes a British crown colony
1940
During World War II, Gibraltar’s entire civilian population is evacuated and the peninsula made into a military fortress
1963
Spanish government calls for Gibraltar to be part of Spain
1967
Gibraltarians vote to remain under British control
1969
Gibraltar is granted self-government by Britain. In protest, Spain closes its border and cuts transport links with Gibraltar
1981
Gibraltarians are granted full British citizenship
1984
Britain and Spain agree that Spaniards and Gibraltarians will have equal rights in both Spain and Gibraltar. Spain fully re-opens its border crossing.
2002
More than 98% of Gibraltarians vote for Gibraltar to remain British (rather than be shared between Britain and Spain)
2006
New constitution is brought in. Gibraltar’s government is renamed the Parliament of Gibraltar. Spain allows flights between Gibraltar and Spain
2013
Gibraltar starts to build an artificial reef in the waters off the Rock; Spain introduces a 50 EUR (£43) fee to use its border crossing
2016
In the British referendum on membership of the EU 96% of Gibraltarians voted to remain; there was an 82% turnout