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Things you probably didn’t know about Gibraltar

July 28, 2016 06:12 by author

Britain has 300 years of sovereignty over Gibraltar and it is officially classed as an Overseas Territory. This puts the territory into the same category as Bermuda and the Falkland Islands in that it falls under the jurisdiction of the UK, without actually being a part of it.

It’s under 7sq km in size and with around 30,000 people crammed into that space, it has the fifth highest population density of a country or territory in the world.

Don’t monkey around

Gibraltar is also renowned for the Rock of Gibraltar, which is inhabited by a colony of Barbary macaques. The only place in Europe with wild monkeys, there are various theories as to how they got there.

While some claim the British brought them over, others say the Moors did instead. A third theory, and perhaps a little more far-fetched, is that the macaques somehow crossed from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.

However they got there, legend dictates that should the monkeys ever leave the mountain, then Gibraltar will cease to be British!

The macaques did come dangerously close to being wiped out during the Second World War though. Only the intervention of British PM Winston Churchill saved them. When just seven remain, the Prime Minister ordered that more be brought to the Rock from North Africa to replenish the colony.

Now they steal food from tourists…

In five minutes I be wed

John Lennon took advantage of Gibraltar’s marriage laws in March 1969 to marry after just a 10 minute ceremony. It was the only place where they could marry at such short notice.

The pair then jetted off to Amsterdam to campaign for world peace! If you’ve ever heard The Ballad of John and Yoko and wondered what it’s about, then now you know – it’s Lennon documenting his wedding!

Gibraltar marked the 30th anniversary in 1999 with a special edition postage stamp, featuring the pair standing in front of the rock with their marriage certificate.

Keep your eye on the sky

Imgur

The main road into Gibraltar crosses straight across the runway for the territory, meaning it gets closed every time a plane is due to land. It also means people can walk across the runway, provide of course that there are no planes coming or going.

Proud to be British

Those in Gibraltar know what they want. In two major referendums on Gibraltar’s future in recent times, both were rebuffed.

Firstly in 1967, residents were asked if they wanted to become Spanish with locals retaining British citizenship. 12,138 people voted to remain British and 44 (yes you read that right) voted to leave. Secondly in 2002, locals voted on whether Spain and the UK should share Gibraltar. Just 187 people said yes – just 1.03% of the vote.

In the most recent EU Referendum the answer from Gibraltar was equally as resounding. 96% of those on the Rock said they wished to Remain, although their feelings were not shared by others across Britain. In the immediate aftermath of the result, Spain again called for joint control of Gibraltar.

It’s only some water

A big issue between Britain and Spain concerns the waters around Gibraltar. The treaty of 1713 that handed The Rock to the British didn’t say who the waters belong too. As a result the UK applies a 3-mile area of British Gibraltar Territorial Water, while Spain excerpts its sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its own territorial waters – which include those around Gibraltar with the exception of the port. Simple, right?

When the balloons go up

Wiki

Every year on 10 September, Gibraltar celebrates its National Day. 30,000 red and white balloons (one for every citizen) are released into the skies.

A home of war?

Hcsblog

Well, not quite. Gibraltar was a key naval base for Britain in the Second World War and the Germans devised plans to invade. Fortunately, operation Felix never took place, although it was reportedly still being considered as late in the war as 1944.

In to the language mix

Llanito is spoken by many Gibraltarians and is a form of Andalusian Spanglish. Although it is mainly Spanish and English, it also features more than 500 words that originate from Genoese, Portuguese, Hebrew and Maltese.

So there you have it. A few things about Gibraltar that you probably didn’t know…