Rock of Gibraltar
Western face of The Rock of Gibraltar, 2006.
Location of the Rock of Gibraltar's summit.
Elevation	426 metres (1,398 ft)
Location	Gibraltar
Range	Betic Cordillera
Prominence	426 metres (1,398 ft)
Coordinates	36°12′75″N 05°20′35″W / 36.22083, -5.34306
Age of rock	Jurassic
Easiest route	Cable car, Road, Hike

The Rock of Gibraltar (sometimes called the Pillar of Hercules or by its Latin name, Calpe^[1]) is a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar, off the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. In topography a summit is a point on a surface which is higher in Elevation than all points immediately adjacent to The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar A mountain range is a chain of Mountains bordered by highlands or separated from other mountains by passes or valleys The Baetic Cordillera is a mountain system streching from Morocco, through Gibraltar and along the southern and eastern parts of Spain. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. The geologic time scale is a chronologic schema (or idealized Model) relating Stratigraphy to time that is used by Geologists and other The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Ma (million years ago to  Ma that is from the end of the Triassic to the beginning A climbing route is a path by which a climber reaches the top of a Mountain, rock or ice wall Gibraltar has a limited public transport system due to the small size of the territory and the impact of the constitutional dispute with Spain Gibraltar has a limited public transport system due to the small size of the territory and the impact of the constitutional dispute with Spain The word 'hiking' is understood in all English-speaking countries but there are differences in usage Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. A monolith is a geological feature such as a Mountain, consisting of a single massive stone or rock or a single piece of rock placed as or within a monument Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 A promontory is a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water (when it may be called a Peninsula or headland) Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra ^[2] It is 426 metres (1,396 feet) high. The Rock is Crown property of the United Kingdom, and borders Spain. Throughout the Commonwealth realms The Crown is an abstract metonymic concept which represents the legal authority for the existence of any government The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The sovereignty of Gibraltar was transferred to the Kingdom of Great Britain by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 after the War of the Spanish Succession. The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 The Treaty of Utrecht that established the Peace of Utrecht, rather than a single document comprised a series of individual peace treaties signed in the Dutch In the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714 several European powers combined to stop French succession to the Spanish throne and what would likely have been a resulting ^[3] Most of the Rock's upper area is covered by a nature reserve, which is home to around 250 Barbary Macaques, commonly known as 'apes'; they are the only wild monkeys found in Europe. The Barbary Macaque population in Gibraltar is the last in the whole of the European continent, which unlike that of North Africa, is thriving These macaques, as well as a labyrinthine network of tunnels, attract a large number of tourists each year.

The Rock of Gibraltar was one of the Pillars of Hercules and was known to the Greeks as Mons Calpe, the other pillar being Mons Abyla or Jebel Musa on the African side of the Strait. The Pillars of Hercules was the phrase that was applied in Antiquity to the promontories that flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. The term ancient Greece refers to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca Monte Hacho is a low mountain that overlooks the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, on the north coast of Africa. Jebel Musa (جبل موسى ar-Latn Jabal Mūsā; Amazigh: Adrar Musa) is the name given to a mountain located in the northernmost part of Morocco The Strait of Gibraltar ( Arabic: مضيق جبل طارق Spanish: Estrecho de Gibraltar) is the Strait that connects the Atlantic In ancient times the two points marked the limit to the known world, a myth originally fostered by the Phoenicians. Phoenicia ( Phoenician: Phoenician nunsvg|12px|נ]]Phoenician nun ^[4][5]

Geology

The Rock of Gibraltar is a monolithic limestone promontory ( 36°08′43″N, 05°20′35″W). A monolith is a geological feature such as a Mountain, consisting of a single massive stone or rock or a single piece of rock placed as or within a monument Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 A promontory is a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water (when it may be called a Peninsula or headland) The geological formation was created during the Jurassic period some 200 million years ago, when the African tectonic plate collided tightly with the Eurasian plate. The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Ma (million years ago to  Ma that is from the end of the Triassic to the beginning The African Plate is a Tectonic plate which includes the Continent of Africa, as well as oceanic crust which lies between the continent and various surrounding The Eurasian Plate is a Tectonic plate which includes most of the continent of Eurasia (a landmass consisting of the traditional Continents of Europe The Mediterranean became a lake that, over the course of time, dried up during the Messinian salinity crisis. The Messinian Salinity Crisis, also referred to as the Messinian Event, is a period when the Mediterranean Sea evaporated partly or completely dry during the The Atlantic Ocean then broke through the Strait of Gibraltar, and the resultant flooding created the Mediterranean Sea. The Strait of Gibraltar ( Arabic: مضيق جبل طارق Spanish: Estrecho de Gibraltar) is the Strait that connects the Atlantic The Rock forms part of the Betic Cordillera, a mountain range that dominates south-eastern Iberia. The Baetic Cordillera is a mountain system streching from Morocco, through Gibraltar and along the southern and eastern parts of Spain. A mountain range is a chain of Mountains bordered by highlands or separated from other mountains by passes or valleys

Inside St. Michael's Cave. St Michael's Cave is the name given to a network of Limestone Caves located in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve of Gibraltar, at a height of over

Today, the Rock of Gibraltar forms a peninsula jutting out into the Strait of Gibraltar from the southern coast of Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. To the north, the Rock rises vertically from sea level up to 411. 5 metres at Rock Gun Battery. The Rock's highest point stands 426 metres (1396 feet) above the strait. The near-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 today, and a sandy plain extended east from the base of the Rock. "Glacial" and "Glaciation" redirect here For the geological periods see Glacial period. Its western face is comparatively less steep.

A panoramic view from the top of the Rock of Gibraltar looking north.

Calcite, the mineral which makes up limestone, dissolves slowly in rainwater. Calcite is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of Calcium carbonate ( Ca[[carbon C]] O 3 Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3 Over time, this process can form caves. Since the Rock of Gibraltar is made of limestone, it is not surprising that it contains over 100 caves. St. Michael's Cave, located halfway up the western slope of the Rock, is the most prominent and is a popular tourist attraction. St Michael's Cave is the name given to a network of Limestone Caves located in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve of Gibraltar, at a height of over

Gorham's Cave is located near sea level on the steep eastern face of the Rock. Gorham's Cave is a natural Sea cave in Gibraltar, and is considered to be one of the last known habitations of the Neanderthals. It is noteworthy because archaeological excavations in the cave have found evidence that Neanderthals used it as far back as 30,000 years ago. The Neanderthal (neɪˈændərtɑːl also with /niː-/ and /-θɔːl/ or Neandertal, is an extinct member of the Homo genus that is known from It is especially significant because plant and animal remains found in the cave (and others nearby) indicate that the Neanderthals had a highly varied diet. ^[6]

Fortification

The Moorish Castle of Gibraltar flying the Union flag. The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Moorish Castle

Main article: Moorish Castle

The Moorish Castle is a relic of the Moorish occupation of Gibraltar, which lasted for 750 years. The Moorish Castle is a fortification in Gibraltar, made up of various buildings gates fortified walls and its most dominant features the Tower of Homage and the Gate The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of Muslim (and earlier non-Muslim people of Berber and Arab descent It was built in the year A. D. 711, when Tariq ibn-Ziyad, the Berber chieftain first landed on the Rock which still bears his name. Tariq Ibn Ziyad or Taric bin Zeyad (طارق بن زياد d 720 known in Spanish history and legend as Taric el Tuerto (Taric the one-eyed was Berbers are the indigenous peoples of North Africa west of the Nile Valley.

The principal building which remains is the Tower of Homage, a massive building of brick and very hard concrete called tapia, the upper part of which housed the living apartments and Moorish bath of the former occupants.

The Galleries

The Rock of Gibraltar's North Front cliff face from Bayside (c. 1810) showing the embrasures in the Rock.

A unique feature of the Rock is its system of underground passages, known as the Galleries.

The first of these was dug towards the end of the four years’ siege which lasted from 1779-1783. The Great Siege of Gibraltar was an unsuccessful attempt by Spain and France to capture Gibraltar from the British during the American War General Elliot, afterwards Lord Heathfield, who commanded the garrison throughout the siege, was anxious to bring flanking fire on the Spanish batteries in the plain below the North face of the Rock. George Augustus Eliott 1st Baron Heathfield, KB ( 1717-12-25 - 1790-07-06) was a British Army officer most notable for his command of the Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. On the suggestion of Sergeant Ince of the Royal Engineers a tunnel was bored from a point above Willis’s Battery to communicate with the Notch, a natural projection from the North face on which it was proposed to mount a battery. There was no intention at first of making embrasures in this tunnel, but an opening was found necessary for ventilation, and as soon as it had been made a gun was mounted in it. By the end of the siege, six such embrasures had been constructed, in which four guns were mounted.

The Galleries, which are shown to visitors, were a later development of the same idea and were finished in 1797. They consist of a whole system of halls, embrasures, and passages, of a total length of nearly 1000 feet (304 metres), and from them may be seen a series of unique views of the Bay of Gibraltar, the isthmus, and Spain. The Bay of Gibraltar (also known as Gibraltar Bay or more rarely Bay of Algeciras, direct translation of Spanish Bahía de Algeciras, the

The Second World War onwards

Searchlights in action, 1940 (Imperial War Museum). A searchlight is an apparatus with Reflectors for projecting a powerful beam of Light of approximately parallel rays in a particular The Imperial War Museum is a Museum in London, England featuring military vehicles weapons war memorabilia an extensive library open to the public

Main article: Military history of Gibraltar during World War II

When World War II broke out in 1939, the civilian population was evacuated to the United Kingdom, Jamaica, and Madeira so that Gibraltar could be fortified against the possibility of a German attack. The Military history of Gibraltar during World War II exemplifies Gibraltar 's position as a British fortress since the early 18th century and as a vital World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. History See also History of Madeira Pre-Portuguese times Pliny mentions certain Purple Islands the position of which with reference to the By 1942 there were over 30,000 British soldiers, sailors, and airmen on the Rock. The tunnel system was expanded and the Rock became a keystone in the defense of shipping routes to the Mediterranean.

In February 1997, it was revealed the British had a secret plan called Operation Tracer to conceal service men in tunnels beneath the Rock in case it was captured by the Germans during World War II. The Military history of Gibraltar during World War II exemplifies Gibraltar 's position as a British fortress since the early 18th century and as a vital World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The team in the rock would have radio equipment to monitor enemy movements. The team of six was sent to Gibraltar where they waited under cover for two and half years. The Germans never got close to capturing the rock, so the men were never sealed inside, and they were disbanded to resume civilian life when the war ended.

Invincibility

Despite long sieges it seemed that there was nothing that could destroy the Rock or its people. This history has inspired the simile "solid as the Rock of Gibraltar", which is used to describe a person or situation that cannot be overcome and does not fail. SIMILE is a research project focused on developing tools to increase the interoperability of disparate digital collections The motto of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment and even Gibraltar itself, Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti (Latin for "No Enemy Shall Expel Us"), reflects this invincibility. Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. For this reason, an illustration of the Rock of Gibraltar is the corporate logo of Prudential Financial^[7]. Prudential Financial, Inc ( is a Fortune Global 500 and Fortune 500 company whose subsidiaries provide Insurance, Investment management, and The company's slogans have also referenced the formation.

The Upper Rock Nature Reserve

Upper Rock Nature Reserve
IUCN Category Ia (Strict Nature Reserve)
View north along the spine of the Rock of Gibraltar, within the Nature Reserve looking towards Spain. nature reserve ( natural reserve, nature preserve, natural preserve) is a Protected area of importance for Wildlife, flora
Location	Rock of Gibraltar
Nearest city	Gibraltar
Coordinates	36°08′43″N 05°20′35″W / 36.14528, -5.34306
Established	1993
Governing body	Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society

Approximately 40% of Gibraltar's land area was declared a Nature Reserve in 1993. Gibraltar (dʒɨˈbrɒltər is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar The Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society ( GONHS) founded in 1976 is a non-governmental membership-based organisation committed to research into and nature reserve ( natural reserve, nature preserve, natural preserve) is a Protected area of importance for Wildlife, flora

Flora and fauna

See also: Gibraltar Barbary Macaques, List of mammals in Gibraltar, and List of reptiles and amphibians in Gibraltar

Female Barbary Macaque feeding her young at Mediterranean Steps, on the Rock of Gibraltar. The Barbary Macaque population in Gibraltar is the last in the whole of the European continent, which unlike that of North Africa, is thriving This is a list of the mammal species recorded in Gibraltar. There are 24 mammal species in Gibraltar, of which 1 are critically endangered 1 is endangered 3 are vulnerable This is a list of the reptile and amphibian species recorded in Gibraltar. The Barbary Macaque population in Gibraltar is the last in the whole of the European continent, which unlike that of North Africa, is thriving

The flora and fauna of the "Upper Rock Nature Reserve" are of conservation interest and are protected by law. ^[8] Within it is a range of animals and plants, but the highlights are the Barbary Macaques (the famous Rock Apes), the Barbary Partridges, and flowers such as Gibraltar's own Chickweed, Thyme and the Gibraltar Candytuft. The Barbary Macaque population in Gibraltar is the last in the whole of the European continent, which unlike that of North Africa, is thriving The Barbary Partridge ( Alectoris barbara) is a Gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous Thyme (ˈtaɪm is a well known herb in common usage the name may refer to either the any or all members of the plant Genus Thymus, Iberis gibraltarica ( Gibraltar candytuft) is a flowering plant of the Genus Iberis and the family Brassicaceae. ^[9]

Ornithology

Main article: List of birds of Gibraltar

The Rock of Gibraltar, at the head of the Strait, is a prominent headland, which accumulates migrating birds during the passage periods. This is a list of the bird species recorded in Gibraltar. The avifauna of Gibraltar includes a total of 311 species of which seven have been introduced by humans The Strait of Gibraltar ( Arabic: مضيق جبل طارق Spanish: Estrecho de Gibraltar) is the Strait that connects the Atlantic The vegetation on the Rock, unique in southern Iberia, provides a temporary home for many species of migratory birds that stop to rest and feed before continuing migration for their crossing over the desert and sea. The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra In spring they return to replenish before continuing their journeys to Western Europe, journeys which may take them as far as Greenland or Russia. ^[10]

See also

• List of famous rocks

References

• "Gibraltar" (1931). Gibraltar: The Travel Key to the Mediterranean: 5-12.