Strait of Gibraltar
Narrow strait linking Atlantic and Mediterranean, separating Europe and Africa.
The Strait of Gibraltar is the narrow sea passage that links the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea and marks the boundary between Europe and Africa. At its most compressed point, the two continents are only 7.7 nautical miles (14.2 kilometers) apart, a distance that ferries can cross in as little as 35 minutes. The strait’s depth varies from 300 to 900 meters. Its waters fall under the jurisdiction of Morocco, Spain, and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar; under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, foreign ships and aircraft are permitted free passage and overflight as long as they are in continuous transit.
The strait takes its name from the Rock of Gibraltar, which itself comes from the Arabic *Jabal Ṭāriq* (“Tariq’s Mount”), honoring Tariq ibn Ziyad. It is also called the Straits of Gibraltar, the archaic “Gut of Gibraltar,” and, in naval shorthand, STROG. Another Arabic name is *Bāb al-maghrib* (“Gate of the West” or “Gate of the Sunset,” also “Gate of the Maghreb” or “Gate of Morocco”). During the Middle Ages, Arabic speakers referred to it as *Az-Zuqāq* (“the Passage”) or *bḥar az-zuqāq* (“the passage sea”), while the Romans called it *Fretum Gaditanum* (Strait of Cádiz). In Latin, it has been known as *Fretum Herculeum*, a reference to the ancient “Pillars of Hercules”—the mountains, including Gibraltar, that flank the strait.
On the northern side of the strait lie Spain and Gibraltar; on the southern side are Morocco and Ceuta (a Spanish autonomous city in northern Africa). Because of its location, the strait is frequently used for illegal immigration from Africa into Europe. The International Hydrographic Organization has formally defined the strait’s limits.
Geologically, the seabed consists of synorogenic Betic-Rif clayey flysch, overlain by Pliocene and/or Quaternary calcareous sediments from thriving cold-water coral communities. Exposed bedrock, coarse sediments, and local sand dunes reflect the strong bottom currents active today. Around 5.97 million years ago, the connection between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic along the Betic and Rifan Corridor gradually narrowed until it closed entirely, triggering the Messinian salinity crisis.
Quick Facts
- Native Name
- ar · مضيق جبل طارق / en · Strait of Gibraltar / es · Estrecho de Gibraltar
- Location
- Atlantic OceanMediterranean Sea
- Countries
- United Kingdom (Gibraltar) · Morocco · Spain
- Min Width
- 14.2 km
- Max Depth
- 2,953 ft
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The name derives from the Rock of Gibraltar, from Arabic Jabal Ṭāriq ('Tariq's Mount'), named after Tariq ibn Ziyad. It has also been called the Straits of Gibraltar, the Gut of Gibraltar, and STROG in naval use. Other historical names include Bāb al-maghrib ('Gate of the West') and Fretum Herculeum, referencing the Pillars of Hercules. The strait's seabed consists of synorogenic Betic-Rif clayey flysch covered by Pliocene and/or Quaternary calcareous sediments, with strong bottom currents. Around 5.97 million years ago, the connection between the Mediterranean and Atlantic was restricted, leading to the Messinian salinity crisis, which deposited huge salt and mineral layers. The Zanclean flood around 5.33 million years ago reestablished the connection, eroding the strait to its present depth. The strait is expected to close again as the African Plate moves northward relative to the Eurasian Plate.
Reader's Guide
The Strait of Gibraltar has served as a critical crossing point for civilizations including Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Moors, Berbers, Spain, and Portugal. After 1492, it became a cultural barrier between Christian-European culture on the northern side and Muslim-Arabic/Mediterranean culture on the southern side. The British enclave of Gibraltar, ceded in the Peace of Utrecht, provides a third cultural group and strategic control of sea lanes. The strait is an important shipping route and is commonly used for illegal immigration from Africa to Europe. It is also an Important Bird Area for migrating seabirds and hosts a resident orca pod of about 36 individuals. Proposals for a tunnel under the strait have been discussed since the 1980s, with occasional talks between Spain and Morocco, and a UK study in 2021 for a tunnel linking Gibraltar with Tangier.
Did You Know?
- The strait's narrowest point is 7.7 nautical miles (14.2 km) wide.
- Ferries cross between Europe and Africa in as little as 35 minutes.
- The strait is named after Tariq ibn Ziyad, from the Arabic Jabal Ṭāriq.
- Around 5.97 million years ago, the strait's closure caused the Messinian salinity crisis, depositing salt layers on the Mediterranean seabed.
More in Straits And Channels 1-24
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