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.