The impervious Rock of Gibraltar is situated at the southern tip
of Spain, standing guard over the strait of Gibraltar which divides
Europe and Africa. This strategic position has made it the target
of endless attacks, yet despite the battles, The Rock has stood
firm over the centuries resulting in the well-known English idiom
'as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar'.
Gibraltar has its legendary beginnings in Greek mythology as one
of the Pillars of Hercules, pushed away from Mount Acho in Morocco
by the fabled strength of Hercules to mark the end of the
Mediterranean and the comforting limits of the world as they knew
it. The Rock was ceded to England in 1713 at the conclusion of the
Wars of the Spanish Succession (along with Minorca and much of what
is now Canada) and has remained a British Crown Colony since
despite many Spanish attempts to regain it, most famously during
the Great Siege (1779-83). Gibraltar has been an irritant in
Anglo-Spanish relations ever since.
Situated on a narrow promontory linked to the end of the Iberian
Peninsula by a slender sandy neck, the British colony of Gibraltar
is dominated by the impressive limestone monolith, and covers an
area of roughly two square miles (6 sq km). The town and its
harbour take up the thin coastal strip to the west overlooking the
Strait of Gibraltar and the Atlantic Ocean, while the steeper
eastern side is made up of sheer cliffs dropping to little beaches
on the Mediterranean Sea. The limestone cliffs are peppered with
natural caves, such as the dramatic St Michael's grotto, as well as
a maze of tunnels which were excavated as a defence system in the
18th century and are now open to tourists.
The upper parts of the sloping 1,400ft-high (426m) rock have
been made into a nature reserve to protect the Rock's natural
environment and Gibraltar's most famous residents, the Barbary
Apes. These sociable characters are the only wild primates in
Europe and have lived on The Rock for hundreds of years, charming
tourists with their delightful antics and curious natures. Legend
has it that when the apes leave, Gibraltar will cease to be
British.
Today Gibraltar remains a popular holiday and business travel
destination, and gateway to southern Spain. The Colony has an
intriguing culture and fascinating history along with the bonus of
a tax-free environment. Gibraltar is full of surprises, from its
unusual sand and limestone landscape, to its resident Bay dolphins
and a botanical garden to equal the finest in the world.
