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Gibraltar is a British overseas territory, which situated on the south of the Iberian Peninsula. Gibraltar is surrounded by Spain to the North. Gibraltar has historically been an important base for the British Armed Forces and is the site of a British naval base.
| Country Name : | Gibraltar |
| Capital : | Gibraltar |
| Largest City : | Gibraltar |
| Official Language : | English |
| Government : | Overseas territory of the UK |
| President : | (Governor) Sir Francis Richards |
| Prime Minister : | (Chief Minister) Peter Caruana |
| Area : | 6.5 km² |
| Area Rank : | 192nd |
| Population : | 27,921 |
| Population Rank : | 213th |
| Density : | 4,290/km² |
| Density Rank : | 2nd–3rd |
| GDP Total : | $769 million |
| GDP Total Rank : | 201st |
| GDP per Capita : | $27,900 |
| GDP per Capita Rank : | 33rd |
| Currency : | Pound Sterling |
| Time Zone : | CET (UTC+1) |
| Internet TLD : | .gi |
| Calling Code : | +350 |
| Geographic Coordinates : | 36 8 N, 5 21 W |
| Railways : | N/A |
| Highways : | 29 km |
| Waterways : | N/A |
| Internet Users : | 6,200 |
| Radio Users : | |
| Mobile Users : | 9,797 |
| Telephone Users : | 24,512 |
| Population Growth : | 0.14% |
| Birth Rate : | 10.74 births/1,000 |
| Death Rate : | 9.31 deaths/1,000 |
| Airport : | 1 |
Description :
Two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band.
Pre-history: - The Phoenicians were arrived and began to settle at Gibraltar around 950 BC. Then after the Carthaginians and Romans were settled here. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Gibraltar came under the control of the Vandals and would later form part of the Visigothic Kingdom of Hispania until its collapse in 711 AD. At that time, Gibraltar was called as the Pillars of Hercules.
The leadership of the Umayyad general Tariq ibn Ziyad: -
The Umayyad general Tariq ibn Ziyad became the leader of a Berber-dominated array on 30th April, 711. His first effort to land at Algerians was failed. After that, he landed at the southern point of the Rock from today's Morocco in his quest for Spain.
The Almohad Sultan Abd al-Mu'min: -
The Almohad Sultan Abd at Mu'min, who ordered the construction of fortifications on the Rock, built the first settlements. Gibraltar would become part of the Taifa kingdom of Granada until 1309, when it would be occupied by Castilian troops. In 1333 the Marinades conquered it. In 1374, the Marinades conquered Gibraltar to the kingdom of Granada. At last the Duke of Medina Sidonia reconquered it in 1462.
Arrival of Jews: - Under the rule of Medina Sidonia, Gibraltar was granted as a home to Jews. Pedro de Herrera a Jewish of Cordoba became the leader of 4350 Jews, and conquered Gibraltar. Jews established themselves in Gibraltar. In 1476, the Duke of Medina Sidonia realigned with the Spanish Crown, the Sephardim were they forced back to Cordoba and the Spainsh Inquisition.
The War of the Spanish Succession: -
During this war, Dutch and British troops, allies of Archduke Charles, and the Austrian pretender to the Spanish Crown, established a Confederate fleet and attacked various towns of Spain. On 4th August 1704, after six hours of bombardment, the confederate fleet captured the town of Gibraltar.
Treaty of Utrecht: - Franco-Spanish troops could not regain Gibraltar and the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, which ended the war, recognized British sovereignty over Gibraltar. Spain gave up Gibraltar to the U.K.
Important Naval: - Gibraltar became an important naval base for the royal Navy, and played an important part in the battle of Trafalgar. Its strategic value increased with the opening of the Suez Canal.
In the 1954 Queen Elizabeth II visited at Gibraltar to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Rock's capture. For 30 years, Spain restricted movement between Gibraltar and Spain. A referendum was hold on 10th September 1967, in which Gibraltar's voters was asked whether they wished to either pass under Spanish sovereignty or remain under British Sovereignty. The votes were in favor of British sovereignty. In response, Spain completely closed the border with Gibraltar. The border with Spain was partially reopened in 1985 after Spain's accession into the European Community.
National Day: - Every year Gibraltar celebrates its National Day on 10th September to commemorate the 1967 referendum, this day is a public holiday and most of its inhabitants participate by dressing up in the National Colors of red and white and attending the political rally; at that time about 30,000 red and white balloons releasing by the inhabitants of Gibraltar. The slogan of this National Day is, "Gibraltar's national day, 10 September, is a magnificent celebration not only of Gibraltarian's pride in being British but of their love of their homeland."
Transport: - In Gibraltar, the main source of transportation is the car. Motorbikes are also popular in Gibraltarians. There is also a good modern bus service.
There is a cable car, which runs from ground level to the top of the rock. Moreover, only transport link with Spain was by land.
Communication: - Gibraltar has a digital telephone exchange, which supported by a fiber optic and copper infrastructure. Moreover the Gibtelecom also operate a GSM network. Gibraltar also provided an international subscriber dialing and its access code is 350. The Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation operates a television and radio station.
Location: - Gibraltar is situated on the south of the Iberian Peninsula. Spain is situated at the north side of the country.
Area: - The total area of Gibraltar is about 6.5 sq. km. Gibraltar shares a three-quarter of a mile (1.2 km) land border with Spain and it has 12 km. of shoreline.
Coastlines: - Gibraltar is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. It has two coasts the East Side, which contains the settlements of Sandy Bay and Catalan Bay and the West side, where the vast majority of the population lives.
Population: - The total population of the country was about 27,921 and its population density was about 11,154 persons per sq. mile. Thus, it is the most densely populated country in the world.
Natural Resources: - Gibraltar has very few natural resources and limited. Natural freshwater resources, until recently using large concrete or natural rock water catchments to collect rainwater. Today it has a desalination plant.
Climate: - The climate of Gibraltar is Mediterranean with mild winters and worm summers.
Mountains: - The highest peak of the country is Rock of Gibraltar, which is about 1397.6 foot high. It is made of limestone. It contains many miles of tunneled roads. Most of its upper area is covered by a nature reserve where around 250 cruel, wild monkeys are living.
Capital: - Gibraltar is the capital of the country.
| 1.00 - (Gibraltar ) | = | USD - (United States Dollars) |
| 1.00 USD - (United States Dollars) | = | - (Gibraltar ) |
| Unit | Currency Name | GBP/Unit | Unit/GBP |
The naval dockyard is the main source of Gibraltar's economy, which providing many economic activities. But due to the interruption of the British military, it became less and less in the last twenty years, and today it is estimated to account for only 7% of the local economy, which was more than 60% in 1984.
Service-based economy: - Recently, Gibraltar has an extensive service-based economy. Financial services and tourism are its main aspects. It is referred as an International Financial Center. Moreover it may also be referred to as an offshore Financial Center, by international institutions like the IMF.
Tax: - Due to its no tax system, more than 8000 offshore qualified companies attracted at Gibraltar. After an argument with the European Union in 2005, this tax-exempt regime is due to disappear on the 31st of December 2010. Financial services and persons involved in the industry are regulated by the Financial Services Commission, which operates in a similar manner to the U.K. Financial Services Authority.
Moreover, due to its favorable tax system, many British and international bank doing operation with Gibraltar, and large bookmakers and online gaming operators also attract at Gibraltar.
Tourism: - Tourism is main source of income of the country's economy. Gibraltar is a popular stop for cruise ships and attracts day visitors of Spain. The Rock is a popular tourist place, which becomes the center of British as well as Spain's tourists. It is also a popular shopping destination, which offers VAT free foods and services. Many of the large British high street chains have branches in Gibraltar.
Other economic activities: - Shipping, is Gibraltar's other economic activity, which include bunkering, ship repair and contraction etc.
GDP: - Gibraltar has a GDP of over 769 million dollars, with a per capita figure of $28,000.
Export markets: - Gibraltar's main export markets in 2004 were France, Spain, Turkmenistan, Switzerland, Germany, the U.K. and Greece.
Currency: - The unit of currency is the Pound.
Population: - According to July 2005 estimate, the total population of Gibraltar was about 27,921 and its population density was about 4,290 persons per sq. km. so Gibraltar is the most densely populated country.
The population of Gibraltar is described as English or Spanish, but they are the descendants of economic migrants, who came to Gibraltar after the majority of the Spanish population left in 1704. Genoese, Maltese, and Portuguese established the majority of this new population, which other groups like Minoreans, Sardinians, Sicilians, French, Germans, Italians and the British.
Religion: - Christianity is the main religion of Gibraltar. Most of the population is followers of the Roman Catholic Church. Moreover, the other religious minorities include the Church of England and a long established Jewish community, a number of Hindu Indians and a Moroccan Muslim population.
English is the main as well as an official language of Gibraltar; which is used for government and business purposes. But the majority of the population also uses Castilian Spanish. Moreover, many local inhabitants also use Llanito, which is a mixture of English and Andalusia Spanish.
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