Gibraltar

Gibraltar (of Arabic Jabal Tariq (جبلطارق), “the rock of Tariq” of the name of Tariq ibn Ziyad) is an overseas territory the United Kingdom since 1704, located in Europe of south-west, in the south of the Spain, in edge of the Straits of Gibraltar, which connects the the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean.

The British maintained in the past an important military presence in Gibraltar. This presence is now reduced, but it remains about it still much of testimonys.

Although the majority of its population is opposed there, Gibraltar is asserted by Spain. The question of Gibraltar is a cause of major dissension in the relations hispano-British. Anxious to preserve in Africa of the enclaves close to the strait of Gibaltar, Spain continues to affirm its military presence and policy on the coasts méditerranénnes of the Morocco. It has there two reduced, vestiges of its old colonial empire, the presidios of Ceuta and Melilla. If Europeans are always majority there, their number falls while that of the " Moor s" increase. Asserted by Morocco, supplied with the resources of tourism and an intercontinental trade encouraged by the tax exemptions, these city-counters remain very impregnated of a hispano-magrhébin charm.

Gibraltar belongs to the European Union but certain laws are not applied there.

Gibraltar has as codes:

LX, according to the List of the prefixes of codes ICAO of the airports,

History

The territory of Gibraltar comprises several sites having been occupied by the Néandertaliens. The site of Forbe' S Quarry delivered besides in 1848 the first cranium corresponding to this species, which however was not interpreted as such as after the discovery of the site éponyme in the Vallée of Neander in Germany. The site of the Grotte of Gorham also delivered industries Moustérien born which could be among most recent.

Before the Arab conquest, the Rock of Gibraltar was called Mont Calpé. According to the Greek Mythology, it is Hercules who set up the Pillars of Hercules made up of the two headlands separating Africa from Europe. The Calpé mount in Europe and the Abyla rock in Africa.

At the beginning of the 7th century the chief Berbère Tariq Ibn Ziyâd establishes there a head of bridge in Europe, giving his name to the Rock.

The site was conquered in 1309 by the kingdom of Castille Gibraltar is reconquered by the general Mérinide Abu Malik in 1333, the Castilians are expelled. In 1374 Mérinides yield the rock to the Royaume of Grenade. Gibraltar is definitively reconquered by Ferdinand V in 1462.

This Spanish territory was taken by the British forces of the Admiral George Rooke the August 25th 1704 whose property is confirmed and recognized by Spain by the treated of Utrecht of 1713.

Epidemic of Yellow fever in 1805 which kills a third of Gibraltariens.

The border enters the Spain and the firm rock in 1966 to reopen only at January 1st 1985 at midnight.

Geography

The territory is wide on 6,543 km ². It has a land borders with long Spain 1,2 km and 12 km of coasts: there are two coasts, the East coast (the East Side) where we can see Sandy Bay and Catalan Bay, and the West coast (the West Side) where the majority of the population saw.

The climate is Mediterranean. The culminating point is the Rock of Gibraltar (this calcareous rock culminates to 426 m), which is a natural reserve populated by the only wild monkeys in Europe.

There are no natural resources, but lately a factory of Dessalement was created inside the Rock.

Gibraltar is one of the territories densément populated in the world (4 290 hab. /km ²), this having for consequence an increasingly strong request for space. The territory culminates with the Rock of Gibraltar to 426 meters with the top of the sea.

Policy

As for all British Territory of overseas, the queen Elizabeth II is the Head of the State, which is represented by the Governor of Gibraltar. The United Kingdom kept the responsibilities concerning defense, the foreign politics, the internal security and the economic questions. The Governor has more one symbolic system role that administrative: he does not take part in the administration of this territory. The Governor names after the elections the Government. He is responsible for defense and safety inside Gibraltar (Royal Gibraltar Police).

The Government of Gibraltar east elected for 4 years. The Parlement of Gibraltar is made up of 15 elected members.

There are three parties represented with the Parlement: Social democrat of Gibraltar, the Left member of the Labor Party-Socialist Gibraltar and the Liberal party of Gibraltar.

Gibraltar belongs to the European Union, in accordance with the Treaty of Accession of the United Kingdom (1973), but is not implied in certain agreements such as the Customs union and the Common Agricultural policy.

But more the big problems are the permanent request of Spain concerning the transfer of this territory. The political parties are opposed there and, also, the population.

Economy

The British soldiers traditionally dominated the saving in Gibraltar, the building site and of naval maintenance providing the major part of the economic activity. This however decreased in the twenty last years, and one estimates his share at only 7% of the local economy, compared with more than 60% in 1984.

Nowadays, Gibraltar has an economy based on the service sector, dominated by the finance departments and tourism. A certain number of British and international banks have subsidiary companies in Gibraltar. Gibraltar became an international center of finance. There is no income tax. Recently much of Bookmaker S and operators of online game moved their seat in Gibraltar, to draw benefit from the favorable legislation of the corporation tax.

Tourism is also an important industry. Gibraltar is a stopover privileged for the boats of cruising. The Rock of Gibraltar is a popular attraction, in particular among the tourists and the British residents installed on the southernmost coast of Spain. The rock also exerts an attraction for shopping: all the goods and the services are without VAT. Several British department stores have establishments there: Marks and Spencer, BHS, Dorothy Perkins and the chain of Morrisons supermarkets.

Gibraltar has a GDP of more than 432 million £ (769 million $); with a GDP by anybody of 15.700 £ (28 000 $).

The currency is the pound sterling.

Demography

Gibraltar has an approximate population of 27.884 hab. (July 2005). The origins of the inhabitants of Gibraltar are Spanish, British and Mediterranean (mainly génoises and Maltese women). The principal religion is Christianity, catholic in majority and Anglican. Are present a great established Jewish community, a certain number of people originating in the Indian sub-continent and a Moroccan Muslim population.

The official language is English, used with the government and in the businesses. Many people also employ the Llanito, a mixture of Spanish, English and Andalusian.

Culture

Gibraltar celebrates its national feastday the September 10th, date chosen to commemorate the referendum of 1967 which was the first act of Autodétermination of the people of Gibraltar (rejection of the annexation by Spain). It is for many people an occasion of festival, each one gets dressed red and white, national colors. The political gathering culminates with releasing it of 30.000 red and white balloons representing the people of Gibraltar.

In 2004, Gibraltar celebrated tercentenary its conquest by the British and, to honor them with their efforts and to affirm his attachment at the naval base, allotted the freedom of the city to Royal Navy. Like political gesture of solidarity, it quasi totality of the population is descended in the street, equipped in red, white and blue, being held by the hand to form a human chain encircling the rock.

Military life

The military garrison is provided by the royal Regiment of Gibraltar, at the origin a force of reserve which was placed on the permanent establishment of the British army in 1990. The regiment full-time includes/understands soldiers and part-time on the spot recruited, as well as British military careers coming from other regiments.

The royal navy maintains a squadron. The squadron is responsible for the safety and the integrity of British territorial water of Gibraltar (BGTW). The base is called Rooke by the inhabitants of Gibraltar in the honor of George Rooke who seized the rock to the detriment of the archduke Charles (claiming with the Spanish throne) in 1704. It is an important base for NATO, the submarines nuclear Britannique S and of the the United States frequently supplying itself there. The boats of the Spanish navy are however not supplied at this place.

The base of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in Gibraltar belongs to the royal Regiment of Gibraltar. Although the planes are not in a permanent way posted in Gibraltar, of many planes of the RAF make regular visits.

It is thought that the rock is a base of listening of ROEM for telecommunications in direction of the North Africa, and because of its strategic site it remains always a principal base for NSA and the Government Communications Headquarters.

See too

Battle of Gibraltar

External bonds

Official site of the government of Gibraltar
The Port off Gibraltar

Roa-rup: Ghibraltar Simple: Gibraltar Zh-min-nan: Gibraltar

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