Gibraltar is Famous Worldwide for its Dramatic Rock. It is located
in a strategic position at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula.
It overlooks the Straits of Gibraltar and is linked to Spain by
a narrow isthmus.
Gibraltar is imposing but small. It measures less than six square
kilometres in total. It is inhabited by around 30,000 people made
up of Gibraltarians, British, Moroccans, Indians and Spanish. There
is also a colony of the famous apes, the only ones in Europe to
run free in a semi-wild state.
Gibraltar is a British self-governing colony. It has a Governor,
David Durie, who is the Queen's representative on the Rock and Commander-in
Chief of the British Forces stationed there. Britain is responsible
for Gibraltar's foreign affairs, defence and the political stability
of the colony. However, the Rock has its own Chief Minister, Peter
Caruana, plus a House of Assembly and a government, which oversees
the day-to-day affairs of the Rock.
Gibraltar is a member of the European Union by virtue of Britain's
membership. However, Gibraltar is outside the Customs Union so travellers
from EU member states can still enjoy duty free purchases now banned
to travellers within the EU.
