Showing posts with label Gibraltar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gibraltar. Show all posts

Monday 11 August 2014

Jabel-Al Tariq or Rock of Gibraltar



The Rock of Gibraltar is a monolithic limestone promontory located in a strategic position at the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, off the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is 1,398 ft high and most of the Rock’s upper area is beautifully covered by a nature reserve, which is home to around 250 Barbary macaques. These macaques, as well as a labyrinthine network of tunnels, entice a large number of tourists every year.

The Rock of Gibraltar is the only landmark of the region. At its foot is the densely populated city area, home to nearly 30,000 Gibraltarians and other nationalities i.e., British, Moroccans, Indians and Spanish. Gibraltar is Famous Worldwide for its dramatic rock, because it overlooks the Straits of Gibraltar and is linked to Spain by a narrow isthmus. It is more interesting that Gibraltar is imposing but small and measures less than 6 square kilometres in total. There is also a colony of the famous apes, the only ones in Europe to run free in a semi-wild state.

Gibraltar is a British self-governing oversees territory (colony) that is responsible for Gibraltar's foreign affairs, defense and the political stability of the colony. Though, the Rock has its own Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, plus a House of Parliament and a government, which oversees the day-to-day affairs of the Rock. The adjacent cliffs, along the eastern side of the Rock, drop down to a series of wind-blown sand slopes that date to the Glaciations, when sea levels were lower than they’re today. As the mineral that makes up limestone dissolves gradually in rainwater, but with the passage of time this process can form caves and consequently the Rock contains over one hundred caves, created during the history of Gibraltar.

St Michael’s Cave is located halfway up the western slope and is the most protuberant and widespread cave. Britain has 300 years of sovereignty over the Rock and almost all of its populations want to remain with Britain nationality. It has rock'n'roll history that collides with monkeys. In ancient times Gibraltar was one of the Pillars of Hercules, and it was recognized to the Greeks as Mons Calpe, the other pillar being Mons Abyla on the Moroccan side of the Strait. An exclusive feature of the Rock is its system of underground passages, known as the Galleries or the Great Siege Tunnels.

Sunday 20 October 2013

Gibraltar Strange Airport, Where Runway Intersecting a Road

Gibraltar Airport (also called North Front Airport) is a civilian airport that serves the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, a small peninsula with an area of just 6.8 square KM. The be short of of flat space on Gibraltar means the peninsula's only runway is bisected by its busiest road, the Winston Churchill Avenue that heads towards the land border with Spain. A pair of flimsy-looking barriers closes vehicular traffic every time a plane lands or departs. Luckily, it’s not a full of activity airport. It handles only approximately 30 flights a week, all flying to and from the United Kingdom. The airport was constructed during World War II upon the territory's race course, when Gibraltar was a vital naval base for the British, originally opened in 1939. A latest terminal has been constructed at Gibraltar International due to the high number of passengers using it, and the terminal is 380,000 sq ft, which is 160,000 sq ft bigger than the old terminal. The road across the runway is constraining to operations at the airport, especially with the increase in operations since the Córdoba Agreement. The new runway tunnel will reduce delays and tailbacks caused by aircraft taking off and landing. There will be several car parks built at Gibraltar International during its expansion. A new 220-space, three-storey car park located at the east of the new terminal