Gibraltar | History, Capital, Language, Flag, Facts & Geography of Gibraltar
History of Gibraltar:
Gibraltar is located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, at the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea. This strategic position means that throughout history the region has been occupied by almost every major empire in the Mediterranean. The first inhabitants were around 950 BC. Phoenician. Later Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs settled here at some point in history.
Spain gained control of the country in her 14th century, but it was taken by the British in the War of the Spanish Succession in 1713. The country became a formal British colony in 1830. Land disputes between England and Spain continue to exist in modern times.
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Information about Gibraltar:
| Capital | Gibraltar |
| Population | 32,693 (Source: 2023 worldometer) |
| Major Cities | Gibraltar (capital), Catalan Bay, Rosia |
| Borders | Spain to the north & to the south is Morocco |
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | $2.344 billion (2018 wikipedia) |
| Currency | Gibraltar pound (GIP) |
Flag of Gibraltar:
Gibraltar Economy Key Industries:
Gibraltar Major Industries: tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Gibraltar Agricultural Products: none
Gibraltar Natural Resources: none
Gibraltar Major Exports: petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
Gibraltar Major Imports: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
The Geography of Gibraltar:
Total Size of Gibraltar: 6.7 km2 (source: 2022 wikipedia)
Geographical Low Point of Gibraltar: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Geographical High Point of Gibraltar: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Climate of Gibraltar: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
General Terrain of Gibraltar: narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
World Region or Continent of Gibraltar: Europe
Geographical Coordinates: 36 8 N, 5 21 W
The People of Gibraltar & Culture
Gibraltar Government Type: NA
Gibraltar Nationality: Gibraltarian(s)
Gibraltar National Holiday: National Day, 10 September (1967); note – day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain
Gibraltar Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)
Gibraltar National Symbol: Barbary macaque
Gibraltar National Anthem or Song: Gibraltar Anthem
Gibraltar Languages Spoken: English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Gibraltar Religions: Roman Catholic 78.1%, Church of England 7%, other Christian 3.2%, Muslim 4%, Jewish 2.1%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 0.9%, none 2.9% (2001 census)
Interesting Facts about Gibraltar:
Gibraltar has its own political system and makes many decisions within the territory, but the British government in London decides things like defense and foreign policy.
Gibraltar’s official language is English, but many also speak Llanito, a local language that mixes Spanish with Mediterranean and Andalusian.
The official currency of Gibraltar is the pound (official symbol is GIP). The Gibraltar region can issue British banknotes and coins, but the UK cannot use Gibraltar pound banknotes or coins.
Gibraltar has an area of just 6.8 km2 and a population of about 32,000. Due to this, population density is he fifth highest among the countries and regions of the world.
Gibraltar uses the same time zone as Spain GMT +1 (not Great Britain) and, like continental Europe, drives on the right.
Anyone can get married in Gibraltar with one day’s notice, and civil marriages are recognized worldwide. It’s that simple. If you suddenly decide to move, Gibraltar may be the place for you. If you get on the plane and submit the documents on the same day, you can get married the next day.
The Ibrahim al-Ibrahim Mosque was donated by the King of Saudi Arabia to his £5 million and is one of his largest mosques in the non-Muslim country. Many Gibraltarians were outraged when it was built in 1997 as the majority of the population is Catholic, but it is now a very important site.