They decided to construct a 32 mile-long network of tunnels, to build a fortress inside a fortress, a city within a city. The British military leaders believed that an attack on Gibraltar would be fatal for it. In 1940, Britain was at war with Germany and Italy and the future looked gloomy for Gibraltar as the enemy surrounded it. When a plane is using the airport runway, cars and pedestrians have to wait on either side, rather like a railway crossing! It is often ranked as one of the most dangerous airports in the world, but actually has an excellent safety record. The airport is famous for the main access road to Gibraltar from Spain called Winston Churchill Avenue, which crosses the runway and closes for each arrival and departure of the planes. Several planes arrive daily in Gibraltar from Europe and Africa. Feeding the Gibraltar macaques is punishable by a fine of £ 4,000!į. Legend states that, if the apes leave Gibraltar, Gibraltar will cease to be British. Watch out! They are still wild animals and can bite if frightened or annoyed. They often approach, and sometimes climb onto tourists. Tiny Gibraltar is most famous for its “apes” - tailless monkeys! There are about 160 monkeys living in Gibraltar, in two main areas. In spring, they stop there again to feed before continuing their journeys to Western Europe, journeys that may take them as far as Greenland or Russia.Į. In autumn, thousands of migrating birds stop off on their way between their breeding grounds in northern Europe and their wintering areas in Africa. The Rock offers favourable bird watching opportunities. The Strait of Gibraltar is the narrowest crossing point for birds migrating to and from Europe and Africa. But, as the Spanish say, “Whenever we talk about Gibraltar, the British talk about the weather or tea.”ĭ. British possession of Gibraltar is a sore point with Spain, which borders it.
Today, it is the only British possession in the Mediterranean. The British recognised this and made Gibraltar a colony in 1713. The Gibraltar is of great strategic importance as it lies on the narrow stretch of water between Europe and Africa right at the point where the Mediterranean joins the Atlantic Ocean. However, Gibraltar’s only official language is English.Ĭ.
It is bordered by Spain to the north, so the people of Gibraltar, who are British citizens, are naturally bilingual in English and Spanish. The very small country is less than 7 square kilometres. Gibraltar, colloquially known as The Rock, (or simply Gib), is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom sitting at the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea. This occurred most frequently where an equivalent word did not exist in English.ī. English was enforced as the official language of the new colonies, but often words from the local languages started to trickle into the English of the colonisers.
They colonised new territories around the world, bringing their language with them. During the 17th and 18th centuries, British navigators sailed across the seas with the aim of extending Britain’s power and prosperity.