Gibraltar

Overview

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, bordering Spain, situated at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea. Britain acquired the territory from Spain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht, and Spain has regularly asserted claims over it ever since, making this disputed sovereignty an ongoing source of diplomatic tension. In referendums held in 2002 and earlier in 1967, the population voted overwhelmingly to remain under British sovereignty. The official language is English, though in everyday communication residents often use Llanito, a Spanish-English mixed language.

The Rock of Gibraltar, the territory's defining geographical feature, rises to about 426 meters and stands as one of the most recognizable symbols among British overseas territories, with a cable car leading to its summit. The Great Siege Tunnels, carved into the Rock during the 18th-century Spanish-French siege, form an important record of the territory's military history. St. Michael's Cave, inside the Rock, with its stalactite formations and occasional concerts, is one of the territory's well-known natural and cultural attractions. The Gibraltar Museum, built atop the remains of a 14th-century Moorish bathhouse, showcases the territory's rich, multi-layered history.

The Gibraltar Nature Reserve is home to Europe's only wild monkey population, the Barbary macaques, which move freely among visitors, and according to tradition, Gibraltar is said to remain under British rule for as long as the macaques continue to live on the Rock. The waters around the territory are also a popular spot for whale and dolphin watching, as the Strait of Gibraltar lies along a migration route between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Europa Point, the territory's southernmost point, offers views of the Moroccan coast on clear days, just about 14 kilometers away. Local cuisine blends British and Spanish influences, with calentita, a baked chickpea-flour flatbread, as a signature item, often sold as street food.