Rock of Gibraltar

ridge, Gibraltar

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

The Rock of Gibraltar is a prominent headland on Spain's southern Mediterranean coast, forming a British overseas territory. It is a heavily fortified British air and naval base that guards the Strait of Gibraltar, the sole entrance to the Mediterranean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean.1

The peninsula is a limestone ridge, with its highest point reaching 1,396 feet (426 meters). Historically, it was considered one of the Pillars of Heracles, marking ancient navigational limits. The territory has no natural springs or rivers, relying on rainwater catchment and desalination for its water supply.21

Gibraltar's economy is driven by tourism, military presence, and trade. It has been a symbol of British naval strength since the 18th century and is commonly referred to as "the Rock".1

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Barbary macaque
…legend, British dominion over the Rock of Gibraltar will end only when this macaque is gone. Because it has no tail, this monkey is sometimes incorrectly called the Barbary ape.
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…legend, British dominion over the Rock of Gibraltar will end only when this macaque is gone. Because it has no tail, this monkey is sometimes incorrectly called the Barbary ape.
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Ṭāriq ibn Ziyād
…May 711 Ṭāriq landed on Gibraltar with an army of 7,000 men, mostly Berbers, Syrians, and Yemenis. Gibraltar henceforth became known as Jabal Ṭāriq (Mount Tarik), from which the Anglicized form of the name is adapted.
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…May 711 Ṭāriq landed on Gibraltar with an army of 7,000 men, mostly Berbers, Syrians, and Yemenis. Gibraltar henceforth became known as Jabal Ṭāriq (Mount Tarik), from which the Anglicized form of the name is adapted.
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