Gibraltar

From ArticleWorld

Gibraltar is a British colony. It is situated on a narrow, rocky peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea from South West Spain. Most of the peninsula is occupied by the Rock of Gibraltar, (one of the Pillars of Hercules), which guards the northeastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar.

The town of Gibraltar lies at the northwest end of the Rock of Gibraltar. The town is a free port, and climate is mild and pleasant. This has led to tourism becoming an important industry of Gibraltar.

Gibraltar is a British colony. It is situated on a narrow, rocky peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea from South West Spain. Most of the peninsula is occupied by the Rock of Gibraltar, (one of the Pillars of Hercules), which guards the northeastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar. The town of Gibraltar lies at the northwest end of the Rock of Gibraltar

During the many years that Gibraltar was a British fortress, most of the area was taken up by military installations, and the civilian population was kept small. The population is mostly of English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, or Maltese descent. Nearly three quarters of the population is Roman Catholic, and there are Protestant, Muslim, and Jewish minorities. English is the official language.

The Government of Gibraltar is elected for a term of four years. However, as an overseas territory of the UK, the head of the state is Queen Elizabeth II, who is represented by the Governor of Gibraltar. The UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security and financial stability. The Governor is not involved in the day-to-day administration of Gibraltar, and his role is largely as a ceremonial head of state. The Governor officially appoints the Chief Minister and government ministers after an election. He is responsible for matters of defense, security and the Royal Gibraltar Police.

The territory covers 6.543 km² (2.53 square miles). It shares a 1.2 km land border with Spain and has 12 km of shoreline. There are two coasts to Gibraltar – the East Side that contains the settlements of Sandy Bay and Catalan Bay, and the West Side, where the majority of the population lives.

The climate is Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers. Its terrain is a narrow coastal lowland bordering the 426-metre (1.397.6-foot) high Rock of Gibraltar.

It has negligible natural resources and limited natural freshwater resources, until recently using large concrete or natural rock water catchments to collect rainwater. It now has a desalination plant using reverse osmosis that is built into the rock itself.

Gibraltar is one of the most densely populated territories in the world, with approximately 4,245 people per km² (10,979 per sq mile). The growing demand for space is being increasingly met by land reclamation, which comprises approximately one tenth of the territory's total area.

The Rock itself is made of limestone and is 426 m (1,396 feet) high. It contains many miles of roads, most of which are closed to the public. Most of its area is covered by a nature reserve, which is home to around 250 Barbary Apes, the only wild monkeys in Europe.

Nowadays Gibraltar has an extensive service-sector-based economy, dominated by financial services and tourism. A number of British banks and international banks have operations in Gibraltar. Gibraltar has become an International Finance Centre. There is no tax on capital income and other advantages. Recently many bookmakers and online gaming operators have relocated to Gibraltar, to benefit from operating in a regulated jurisdiction with a favorable corporate tax regime.

Tourism is also a significant industry, with Gibraltar utilizing its port facilities for cruise ships; and capitalizing on day visitors from resorts in Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is a popular tourist attraction, particularly among British tourists and residents in the southern coast of Spain. The territory is also a popular shopping destination, since all goods and services are VAT free. Many of the large British high street chains have branches in Gibraltar including Marks and Spencer.