Places - Gibraltar Whilst this unusual plot of land nestled off the southern tip of Spain is not Spanish, it is worthy of a mention due to its closeness. Gibraltar is a British dependency and a world famous tax-haven. Once a military stronghold although the military presence has now been scaled down. The RAF has maintained a base at the airport. It is a tourist haven that attracts many thousands of visitors all year round. Despite the small area of land that Gibraltar occupies (about 2 square miles), it has many points of interest for the tourist. Once over the frontier from Spain, which can be a trial, especially in the summer season, (passports required), there are companies that run tours of the rock and all the sights. The tours last approx. 1 1/2 hours. There is also a cable car that runs to the top of the rock. This starts at the Botanic Gardens and finishes at the Ape's Den.

The rock tour includes the Caves of St.Michael with all its glorious stalactites and stalagmites, where concerts are still held, deep within the rock, the Siege Tunnels with 32 miles of underground passageways inside the rock, a Moorish Castle, last rebuilt in 1333 that stands perched on the edge of the cliff. Gibraltar is also the only place in the world where Barbary Apes live wild. These tail-less monkeys have lived on the rock for centuries and are amusing to all who see them. If you drive your vehicle up the rock, the price is £10 plus £2 per person. [2010/11]. Pictured above are the apes. WARNING ! Do not feed the apes. There is a huge fine which will be imposed if you are caught. watch your personal belongings as the apes will steal anything they can get hold of. Bags and sun glasses are particularly attractive to them, as are carrier bags. See our rock tour video to see the apes violently fighting. Gibraltar rises to 450 metres at its peak and guards the entrance from the Mediterranean to the wide ocean beyond.

The history of Gibraltar is fascinating to say the least. Read the history of Gibraltar here . Pictured below is Gibraltar from La Linea which is the Spanish town where the border crossing is located. At Europa point there is an observation point with telescope. Currently the area is being dveloped and a new park is being constructed [2010]. The Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque is located here (see left). It's the most southerly located Mosque in Europe. It was a gift to Gibraltar from the late King Fahd Al-Saud. It took two years to build. At Europa Point you will also find the Trinity Lighthouse. It was built around 1838, instructed by the Governor of Gibraltar, Alexander Woodford. The lighthouse opened in 1841. A crowd of more than 2000 people gathered to see the lighthouse begin operation. Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Gibraltar | PlanetWare Written by Bryan Dearsley Long famous as the "key to the Mediterranean," Gibraltar has been a British Overseas Territory since 1713 after being seized during the War of Spanish Succession.

Near the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula and overlooking one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, the "Rock of Gibraltar," as it's still often known, rises out of the sea on the east side of Algeciras Bay and is linked with mainland Spain by a narrow isthmus. The town of Gibraltar itself lies on the west side of the Rock. Given its proximity to Spain - one could almost toss a stone from the island to the mainland - Gibraltar's sovereignty remains a bone of contention, and the Spanish government has, on occasion, been known to close the border. However, the island is generally easily accessible by bus or even on foot from the mainland, and the port serves as a busy terminus for cruise ships. For such a small country - it's only four square kilometers - Gibraltar certainly has more than its fair share of tourist attractions. 1 Europa Point 2 The Apes of Gibraltar The Apes of Gibraltar Share: Gibraltar is famous for its Barbary macaques, the only monkeys living wild in Europe . Legend has it that if the apes ever leave Gibraltar, so too will the British, but with more than 300 of the animals thriving on the island, this eventuality seems remote.

The best place to see them is in the Gibraltar Nature Reserve in the Upper Rock area of the island. Here, you'll find the Apes' Den, where you can get up close without fear of being harassed. (Visitors beware: as cute as these apes are, they're wild and do bite. Also, from time-to-time they venture into the town, so watch your belongings. Feeding is strictly prohibited.) 3 Highest Point and O'Hara's Battery Highest Point and O'Hara's Battery Share: Gibraltar's Highest Point is some 425 meters high and is well worth exploring. It's here, you'll find O'Hara's Battery, an artillery fortification built in 1890 that soon earned the nickname "O'Hara's Folly" as militarily, it proved next to useless. Now open to the public, it's worth a visit to see how these large artillery pieces worked, as well as for the superb views from the top of the Rock. Access to the Highest Point is via a hard slog up the wonderful Mediterranean Steps - a steep staircase that literally takes you from the top to the bottom of the island - or aboard the Gibraltar cable car.

4 The Gibraltar Nature Reserve Cable Car to the Nature Reserve Share: Not only does the Gibraltar Nature Reserve offer great views, it's also a good place to see some of the millions of birds who stop over while migrating between Africa and Europe. Encompassing more than 40% of the island, the reserve includes many of Gibraltar's most important attractions. In addition to St. Michael's Cave, it's here you'll find Forbes' Quarry where one of the world's first female Neanderthal skulls was found in 1848. In addition to its unique flora and fauna, the reserve holds numerous reminders of the island's military importance, including the 100-ton gun at Magdala Battery, as well as informative displays relating to the island's history in the Heritage Centre at Princess Caroline's Battery. 5 St. Michael's Cave St. Michael's Cave Share: No visit to Gibraltar would be complete without seeing St. Michael's Cave. The largest of the island's more than 150 caves, St. Michael's Cave lies at least 274 meters above sea level and is crammed full of spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.

First recorded in AD 45, the cave has many legends associated with it, including one suggesting the island is secretly connected to Africa via a 24-kilometer-long tunnel. The reality, however, is equally impressive. The largest area of the cave, the Upper Hall, is connected via five passages to a smaller hall where you'll see spectacular drops of between 12 and 45 meters. A number of smaller chambers, some reaching depths of 76 meters, are accessible via a series of small holes. During excavation work in WWII, the Lower St. Michael's Cave was discovered, containing many more equally breathtaking chambers, as well as a small underground lake. For a truly unforgettable experience, take in a concert in the fabulous Cathedral Cave, a natural underground concert hall seating 400 people for performances of music, ballet, and drama. A variety of tour options are available. 6 The Moorish Castle The Moorish Castle Share: Perched high above the old town of Gibraltar and overlooking Casemates Square is the old Moorish Castle.

Originally built in the eighth century and rebuilt in the 14th century, much of the castle has been destroyed over time, although the parts that do remain - including a tower, a massive gatehouse, and a few fragments of masonry - suggest the building's former glory (in places, battle scars from the island's many sieges can still be seen). The Tower of Homage is in fact the highest such Islamic structure left standing in the Iberian Peninsula, while the walled Kasbah, where local dignitaries would reside, is one of the largest in the area. 7 Main Street and Casemates Square Fountain in Casemates Square Share: At the northern end of Main Street, Casemates Square is the largest public space in the old city center and is a popular gathering place due to its numerous restaurants, cafés, and shops. Although completed in 1817, evidence of settlements dating back to the Moors of the 10th century has been found. While for centuries it served as a place of trade (and also execution), these days, the square is where you'll find numerous fun cultural events including open-air concerts, National Day celebrations, and the increasingly popular Calentita Food Festival.

Other landmarks along Main Street include the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned (a former mosque rebuilt in Gothic style in 1502). In Cathedral Square stands the Moorish-style Anglican Cathedral (1821), while near the south end of Main Street is the Governor's Residence, originally a Franciscan convent built in 1531. 8 Gibraltar Museum With a focus on the cultural and natural history of Gibraltar, including the Strait of Gibraltar, the Gibraltar Museum was established in 1930 and is located in Bomb House, the former residence of the Principal Artillery Officer. Highlights of this excellent (though small) museum are the well-preserved 14th-century Moorish Baths and the huge model of the Rock as it would have looked in 1865. Other galleries deal with the island's geological origins from the Jurassic Period to the present day, a collection of rare Roman anchors, and an exhibit detailing the Great Siege of Gibraltar from 1779-1783.

Address: 18-20 Bomb House Lane, Gibraltar 9 The Great Siege Tunnels The Great Siege Tunnels Share: Perhaps the most significant military installation in the Mediterranean, the Great Siege Tunnels of Gibraltar are an engineering marvel. Carved out of the sheer face of the "Notch," the northern face of the Rock, using nothing but manual labor, this labyrinth of tunnels was built by the British in just six weeks as a defense against a combined force from France and Spain when they tried to recapture the Rock from the British. The 14th of many sieges the island has endured over the centuries, the Great Siege lasted from 1779 to 1783 and, thanks to the tunnels, resulted in Britain's victory in what would, without the cannons that were able to be mounted here, have undoubtedly ended in defeat. Additional tunnels were added in WWII, bringing the total length of the tunnel network to an impressive 51 kilometers. Guided tours of both sets of tunnels are available.

10 Gibraltar Botanic Gardens Gibraltar, UK Territory - Discount Cruises, Last-Minute Cruises, Short Notice Cruises - Vacations To Go For cruises that visit Gibraltar, UK Territory: Sitting at the southern tip of Spain where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic, the tiny British colony of Gibraltar marked the end of the known world in ancient times. The famous Barbary apes are a notable attraction here; they are Europe's only wild monkeys and are considered a symbol of British rule. Shore excursions highlight the village of Catalan Bay, Europa Point and its lighthouse and the enormous cavern known as St. Michael's Cave. Language: English Currency: Gibraltar pound (GIP) Gibraltar, UK Territory Weather Britain's rock of Gibraltar | Reuters.com Britain's rock of Gibraltar 1 / 22 People enter the British territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, at its border with Spain, in La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain June 24, 2016. Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly in favor of Britain remaining in the European Union but were outnumbered in the referendum and now face the consequences.

REUTERS/Jon Nazca 2 / 22 A worker places the Union Jack flag on the facade of a shop at Casesmates square in Gibraltar, June 16, 2016. The peninsula on Spain's south coast, a British territory since 1713 known to its 30,000 residents as "the Rock", is a major point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations. Spain has long claimed sovereignty over the enclave. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 3 / 22 A cloud partially covers the tip of the Rock of Gibraltar at sunrise as seen from La Atunara port, southern Spain August 18, 2013. Spain will seek to jointly govern Gibraltar with Britain following the British vote to leave the European Union, Spain's acting foreign minister said on Friday. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 4 / 22 Pedestrians and drivers wait to cross the road of the Gibraltar International Airport as a British Royal Air Force plane taxis on the tarmac after landing in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, June 27, 2016.

REUTERS/Jon Nazca 5 / 22 Pedestrians cross the tarmac at Gibraltar International Airport in front of the Rock near the border with Spain in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, historically claimed by Spain, June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 6 / 22 A man from Gibraltar looks on after the end of a "Gibraltar stronger in Europe" campaign event, June 16, 2016. Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo told the territory's parliament there would be no talks on such a deal. Co-sovereignty with Spain was rejected by around 99 percent of Gibraltarians in a referendum in 2002. "Let others make irrelevant noises about flying flags over our Rock if they want to waste their breath. Such ideas will never prosper," he said. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo 7 / 22 An elderly woman hides as she cleans the door of a house in Gibraltar, April 21, 2016.

The majority of people living in Gibraltar - designated as a British Overseas Territory - are British citizens with British passports, although thousands of Spaniards cross from mainland Spain every day for work. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 8 / 22 Fishermen clean their fishes at La Atunara port, southern Spain, August 16, 2013. Spain's acting foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said Spain would push to keep Gibraltar out of any general Brexit negotiations between Britain and the European Union and will aim for bilateral talks to seek co-sovereignty and eventually Spanish control of the peninsula. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 9 / 22 A woman plays a guitar at a port in Gibraltar, August 14, 2013. Britain rejects any notion of Spanish sovereignty against the wishes of the people of Gibraltar, one of the most prosperous regions in Europe with a thriving economy based on financial services, tourism and Internet gambling. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 10 / 22 Gibraltarian women stand next to the closed "Gibraltar stronger in Europe" campaign office as they wait for the start of a wedding outside a church, June 24, 2016.

The mood was subdued in Gibraltar on Friday, with people apprehensive and confused about what the result may mean for the movement of labor and capital over the border with Spain. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 11 / 22 Vehicles wait in line to enter Gibraltar at its border with Spain, in La Linea de la Concepcion, southern Spain, August 10, 2015. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 12 / 22 A woman shows passports to a Gibraltarian police officer as she and a man cross the border with Spain, in a car, June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 13 / 22 Members of the British Royal Navy frigate HMS Westminster throw a sacks of potatoes after arriving at Gibraltar bay August 19, 2013. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 14 / 22 British Royal Navy frigate HMS Westminster (bottom L) and the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Lyme Bay (top L) are seen docked as British Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Mounts Bay (R) is towed towards the port after arriving at Gibraltar bay, August 19, 2013.

REUTERS/Jon Nazca 15 / 22 A woman exchanges English Pound notes for Euros notes at a money exchange office in Gibraltar, June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 16 / 22 Clive (2nd L), a Gibraltarian citizen, drinks wine with his friends, Mary (L) from Scotland, Roger (R) from Britain and Michelle from Ireland at a the terrace of a bar at Casemates Square in Gibraltar, June 24, 2016. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 17 / 22 Justo Marquez, 50, carries a cross during peace march as he walks along the road of the Gibraltar International airport, after entering the British territory, at its border with Spain, September 1, 2013. Marquez marched from Malaga to resolve Spain's dispute with Gibraltar by carrying a three-meter high cross on an 135km (83 miles) peace march to The Rock. The sign reads, "No more hunger. No more war. Peace in the world".

REUTERS/Jon Nazca 18 / 22 Spanish fishermen with their relatives in a fishing boat take part in a protest at the site where an artificial reef was built by Gibraltar with concrete blocks, in Algeciras bay, La Linea de la Concepcion, southern Spain August 18, 2013. REUTERS/Jon Nazca 19 / 22 Women sit next to "voladores" or flying fish, hung to dry outside their home, near La Atunara port in La Linea de la Concepcion, southern Spain August 16, 2013.

REUTERS/Jon Nazca 20 / 22 United Kingdom United Kingdom Official name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Area: 244,820 square kilometers (94,526 square miles) Highest point on mainland: Ben Nevis (1,343 meters/4,406 feet); on South Georgia Island, Mount Paget (2,934 meters/9,626 feet) Lowest point on land: Fenland (4 meters/13 feet below sea level) Hemispheres: Northern Hemisphere; divided between Eastern and Western Hemispheres Time zone: Noon = noon GMT Longest distances: 965 kilometers (600 miles) from north to south; 485 kilometers (300 miles) from east to west (Great Britain only) Land boundaries: 360 kilometers (224 miles), all with Ireland Coastline: 12,429 kilometers (7,723 miles) Territorial sea limits: 22 kilometers (12 nautical miles) 1 LOCATION AND SIZE The United Kingdom (U.K.) is located on the British Isles, an archipelago off the northwestern

 coast of Europe.

The major islands in the British Isles are Great Britain (often simply called Britain) and Ireland; numerous smaller islands are found nearby. Only the northern part of Ireland belongs to the United Kingdom, with the rest of the island comprising the Republic of Ireland. At 244,820 square kilometers (94,526 square miles), the United Kingdom occupies a slightly smaller area than the state of Oregon. 2 TERRITORIES AND DEPENDENCIES The United Kingdom has numerous overseas territories and dependencies scattered around the world. Dependencies in the Caribbean Sea include the British Virgin Islands (the eastern half of the Virgin Islands), Anguilla, Montserrat, and the Cayman Islands. The Turks and Caicos Islands, which also belong to the U.K., are located in the Atlantic Ocean at the southeastern end of the Bahamas. Other territories situated in the Atlantic are the archipelagos of Bermuda and Saint Helena. Further south in the Atlantic are the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), the largest of the United Kingdom's dependencies, as well as South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

Other dependencies include the Chagos Archipelago in the northern Indian Ocean; the Pitcairn Islands in the south central Pacific Ocean; and Gibraltar, south of Spain's Mediterranean coastline. Several islands near Great Britain are crown dependencies; they belong to the country's royal family but are not technically part of the United Kingdom. They include the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea and the Channel Islands in the English Channel. 3 CLIMATE Warmed by the North Atlantic Drift, the United Kingdom enjoys a temperate climate, with the temperature rarely exceeding 32°C (90°F) in the summer months or dropping below -10°C (14°F) in the winter. During the winter, mean monthly temperatures range from 3°C (37°F) to 5°C (41°F). Mean summertime temperatures range from 12°C to 16°C (54°F to 61°F). Rainfall is lightest along the eastern and southeastern coasts, and heaviest on the western and northern heights, where annual precipitation can exceed 380 centimeters (150 inches).

Average annual rainfall across the country is just over 100 centimeters (40 inches), with rain distributed evenly throughout the year. 4 TOPOGRAPHIC REGIONS The United Kingdom has four primary regions: England (130,373 square kilometers/ 50,337 square miles), Wales (20,767 square kilometers/8,018 square miles), and Scotland (78,775 square kilometers/30,415 square miles), all on the island of Great Britain; and Northern Ireland (14,120 square kilometers/ 5,452 square miles), on the island of Ireland. Each has a distinctive topography. England and Wales occupy the southern half of Great Britain. England is composed mostly of rolling hills. The highest elevations are found in the north. In the northwest, a region known as the Lake District includes a number of small lakes, and the terrain reaches higher elevations in a range known as the Cumbrian Mountains. In the north-central region, there are limestone hills known as the Pennine Chain. In the southwest, a peninsula with low plateaus and granite outcroppings makes up the region known as the West Country.

Wales is a rugged region with extensive tracts of high plateau. The Cambrian Mountains cover almost the entire area and include Wales's highest point, Mount Snowdon (1,085 meters/3,560 feet). There are also narrow coastal plains in the south and west and small lowland areas in the north. Scotland, which occupies the northern half of Great Britain, is primarily mountainous. Its Highlands contain the highest peaks in the United Kingdom. South of the Highlands are the Central Lowlands, containing the valleys of the Tay, Forth, and Clyde Rivers. Beyond this are the Southern Uplands, with moorland cut by many valleys and rivers. Northern Ireland consists mostly of low-lying plateaus and hills. 5 OCEANS AND SEAS The United Kingdom is surrounded by water. The British Isles are bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the north and northwest and the North Sea on the east. The Irish Sea lies between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. South of Ireland and west of the southernmost tip of Great Britain is the Celtic Sea. Northwest of Great Britain is the Sea of the Hebrides. Beyond that sea and its islands are the open waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Seacoast and Undersea Features About 200 kilometers (125 miles) off the coast of Dundee, Scotland, lies the Devil's Hole, a series of deep trenches in the North Sea that reach depths of 230 meters (760 feet). Britain has coldwater coral reefs at ocean depths of 200 to 1,000 meters (656 to 3,281 feet). Sea Inlets and Straits The English Channel lies along the southern coast of Great Britain, separating it from the European mainland. The narrowest point in the channel, known as the Strait of Dover, is 34 kilometers (21 miles) wide. The northern part of the Irish Sea, which separates Great Britain from Ireland, is known as the North Channel, while the southern part is called St. George's Channel. The narrow channel between the main island and the Isle of Wight is called the Solent. The Bristol Channel separates Cornwall in southeastern England from Wales. Islands and Archipelagos By far the largest of the British Isles is the island of Great Britain (228,300 square kilometers/88,150 square miles), the largest island in Europe.

Ireland is the second-largest isle. Several smaller archipelagos near Great Britain are part of the United Kingdom. The most extensive are the Hebrides, off the northwest coast of Scotland. The Orkney Islands are a smaller archipelago, located just north of Scotland. Much further north, in the North Sea, are the Shetland Islands. The Isles of Scilly lie at the other end of the country, off the southwest tip of England in the Celtic Sea. Besides these archipelagos, there are also many isolated islands, large and small, near Great Britain. These include the Isle of Wight in the English Channel, the Isle of Anglesey in the Irish Sea, and Arran, off the western coast of Scotland. DID YOU KNOW? Dug between 1988 and 1991, the Channel Tunnel opened for use in 1994, at a final cost of $21 billion. At 50 kilometers (31 miles) long, it is among the longest tunnels on Earth; 38 kilometers (24 miles) of the tunnel are submerged beneath the English Channel.

Coastal Features The coasts of both Great Britain and Northern Ireland are very irregular, with many long peninsulas and deep bays, firths (estuaries), and inlets. The most even part of the nation's coastline is the eastern coast of England. Along the southeast coast, white chalk cliffs that rise to 250 meters (825 feet) border the Strait of Dover. Several short promontories, including Dungeness and Beachy Head, mark England's southern coast. The whole of southwestern England is a peninsula called Cornwall, which extends 120 kilometers (75 miles) west into the Atlantic. The western coast of Wales curves around Cardigan Bay, at the east edge of St. George's Channel, with the Lleyn Peninsula at its northern end. The coastline features rugged cliffs, coves, and sandy beaches. Further east are Liverpool Bay and Morecambe Bay on England's northwestern coast. As the coast approaches Scotland, both in the west and the east, it becomes even more irregular than in the rest of the country. The broad Solway Firth marks the end of England's northwestern coast and the beginning of Scotland.

It is separated from the North Channel by a long, narrow peninsula, ending in the Mull of Galloway. Further north are two more great firths, the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Lorn, with another long peninsula, Kintyre, between them. Further north on the western coast there are numerous narrower but still lengthy inlets. Cape Wrath marks the northwestern end of Great Britain. The eastern coast of Scotland has two deep, broad, indentations, with a headland between them. Further south is the Firth of Forth. Along the eastern coast of Northern Ireland is a large sea inlet known as the Strangford Lough. 6 INLAND LAKES The largest lake in the United Kingdom is Lough Neagh (396 square kilometers/153 square miles), in the center of Northern Ireland. Southwest of Lough Neagh are the Upper and Lower Lough Erne, which extend across the country and into Ireland. Scotland is a region of many lakes; here they are called Lochs. Loch Lomond (70 square kilometers/ 27 square miles) is the largest lake in Great Britain. Loch Ness is famous for its legendary Loch Ness monster.

There are no large lakes in England or Wales. On the northwest coast of England, however, near the border with Scotland, there is a region called the Lake District containing many small, picturesque lakes. 7 RIVERS AND WATERFALLS Rivers are plentiful throughout the United Kingdom, but most are short, as the sea is always nearby. The longest rivers are found in England and Wales. The Severn River is the longest in the nation (352 kilometers/220 miles). The Thames (322 kilometers/200 miles) is England's best-known river and the second-longest in the U.K., with more than forty locks. Other English and Welsh rivers include the Humber, Tees, Tyne, and Great Ouse in the east, and the Avon, Wye, Dee, and the Exe in the west. Scotland's river system is largely separate from that of England. The two major rivers of Scotland's central lowland are the River Clyde and the River Forth. Scotland's longest river, the River Tay (188 kilometers/ 117 miles), is farther north. Northern Ireland's major rivers are the Erne and the Foyle, which marks part of the border with Ireland.

8 DESERTS Spain: We’ll Invade If Britain Leaves European Union - Andre Walker Spain: We’ll Invade If Britain Leaves European Union Share Share Tweet WESTMINSTER, United Kingdom - Spain has warned that it will invade the British territory of Gibraltar if the UK leaves the European Union. According to the Daily Express newspaper Foreign Minister, Jose Manual Garcia-Margallo, said Spain would take control of the territory “the very next day”. The threat came as Britain gears up to vote on whether to leave the EU on June 23. The referendum is currently too close too call, with voters concerned about the level of immigration into the country, but also want access to the EU’s single market. Britain has ruled Gibraltar since it was captured from Spain in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. The Spanish government confirmed British rights to the territory "in perpetuity" as part of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. However, in recent years Gibraltar has suffered blockades at its border with Spain, which claims it is a haven for cheap tobacco. The Spanish Navy also regularly encroaches into Gibraltar’s waters, saying the Treaty of Utrecht did not include any of the surrounding waterways.

Gibraltar is on the Southernmost tip of the Spanish peninsula, and is home to both British and American forces. It is known as ‘the rock’ and has twice voted in referenda to remain linked to the United Kingdom. As a British Overseas Territory it has effectively refused full independence and instead ceded some policy areas such as defense and foreign affairs to the UK government. In exchange it receives the protection of the UK and even votes in the European elections as part of the UK. The territory is a major player in online gambling, with a number of the world’s biggest online casinos being based there. Julia Reid, Member of the European Parliament for Gibraltar, attacked the Spanish for its threat to the rock. She said: “Gibraltar has nothing to fear, any move for the outpost, which is as British and Britain itself, would be repelled, as every attempt has been for hundreds of years. “And even if Britain votes to leave the EU, it doesn’t make any difference, Gibraltar will still be British territory and that’s that.

It sounds more like an old communique from Buenos Aires, rather than a new one from Madrid.” But Gibraltar’s own chief minister, Fabien Picardo, said that he too feared that Spain could “pounce on us” if UK decided to leave the EU. He said: “It is safer and more secure for Gibraltar to remain in the EU to deny Mr Margallo the opportunity to pounce on us. We have fought to ensure that Gibraltar is able to vote in the Brexit referendum so that we can influence that decision.” Mr Margallo said "we’ll be talking about Gibraltar the very next day" if the UK votes to leave the EU. A Foreign Office spokesman told the Express: “The Prime Minister has made clear that the UK Government will meet its constitutional commitments to the people of Gibraltar and will not compromise on sovereignty. “Our differences with Spain on Gibraltar will be resolved by political means through our relationship as EU partners, not through disproportionate measures such as the border delays we have seen over the past week. "We have many common interests with Spain and wish to continue to have a strong relationship at every level with the Government of Spain.” Other British Overseas Territories, with the same arrangements as Gibraltar, include the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and Bermuda.

'Brexit' shock waves rock Germany and the rest of Europe - LA Times 'Brexit' shock waves rock Germany and the rest of Europe Erik Kirschbaum A sense of panic and disbelief rippled through Germany and across Europe early Friday after Britain voted to leave the European Union , a stunning decision that appeared to defy economic reason and cast doubts over the future of the bloc that in various forms has been a bulwark for peace and prosperity for the last six decades. The looming exit of the EU’s second-largest economy and most ardent advocate of free trade caught European leaders and global financial markets off guard as many evidently wrongly expected Britain to vote to stay in the trade bloc. More than $100 billion of assets was quickly wiped out in financial markets and the pound fell to a 31-year low, plunging more than 10%, as one of Europe’s most powerful countries set off on an uncharted course that will leave the EU damaged and diminished.

Updates: Britain votes to leave European Union » “There is no way of predicting the consequences of this event, especially for the U.K.,” Donald Tusk , a former Polish prime minister and the president of the European Council that leads the 28-member EU, said in a speech in Brussels. “It’s a historic moment but not a moment for hysterical reactions. We are determined to keep our unity as 27.” Worries that “Brexit,” as it is also known, could lead to a wider unraveling of the EU spread after Britain’s 51.9%-to-48.1% decision to leave. Opinion polls in other EU countries, such as the Netherlands and Denmark, also show majorities in favor of leaving. Ominously, the British vote galvanized far-right and anti-EU movements in France and Germany, the EU’s last two remaining powers, which will have tricky national elections in 2017 due to the rise in anti-establishment sentiment. Britain votes to leave the European Union Britons voted Thursday to leave the 28-nation European Union, a historic vote that sent shock waves across the continent.

Britons voted Thursday to leave the 28-nation European Union, a historic vote that sent shock waves across the continent. See more videos The same sort of contagion from the 2008 banking, sovereign debt and eurozone crises that spread across the EU, crippling economic growth and sending unemployment rates soaring, could now erode some of the political cohesion and confidence of the world’s largest free-trade bloc, with 508 million residents, analysts said. “This is an historic breaking point and the shock waves are simply too enormous to fully gauge at this point,” said Paul Nolte, a political scientist at Berlin’s Free University. “It’s difficult to say today what the consequences for the EU are because of the centrifugal forces coming out of this vote. It will certainly give the populist forces across Europe an enormous lift.

There’s tension about contagion in some of the smaller EU countries, but Europe, as a whole, has been through crises before and been able to pull things together again.” Britain’s vote to leave, which seemed destined to plunge the world’s fifth-largest economy into a period of prolonged uncertainty that was exacerbated as Prime Minister David Cameron announced he would be stepping down, could lead to a dissolution of Britain itself, with Scotland and perhaps even Northern Ireland leaving to stay in the EU. The strong pro-EU “remain” vote in Scotland and Northern Ireland, which shares a historically fragile border with EU member Ireland, could not overcome the heavy “leave” vote in England (minus central London) and Wales. Sinn Fein, a party supporting the union of Ireland and Northern Ireland, immediately called for a referendum after the Brexit vote while Scottish leaders also did not miss a beat in declaring their interest in leaving Britain to stay in the EU. It also triggered calls in Scotland for a second referendum for independence after voters narrowly decided to stay in Britain in 2014.

"It is a statement of the obvious that the option of a second referendum must be on the table and it is on the table," said Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, adding it was "democratically unacceptable" for Scotland to be dragged out of the EU against its will. International markets reeled on Friday as Britain voted to leave the European Union in a shock referendum result, with the value of the pound falling to its lowest level against the U.S. dollar since 1985. As of early Friday morning in Britain, 52% of British voters had chosen to leave the EU and... International markets reeled on Friday as Britain voted to leave the European Union in a shock referendum result, with the value of the pound falling to its lowest level against the U.S. dollar since 1985. As of early Friday morning in Britain, 52% of British voters had chosen to leave the EU and... (Jonathan Kaiman, Don Lee and Julie Makinen) “Scotland will seek independence now,” J.K. Rowlings, the Scottish author of the “Harry Potter” books, said on Twitter. “Cameron’s legacy will be breaking up two unions.

Neither needed to happen.” Also, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo reignited a 300-year-old fight with Britain on Friday by saying that Gibraltar, a 2.5-square-mile piece of British territory on the southern tip of Spain with 30,000 residents, should be returned to Spain. “The Spanish flag is now much closer to flying over Gibraltar,” he told Spanish radio. In the Netherlands, anti-immigration leader Geert Wilders, who is seeking to become the country’s next prime minister, called for a referendum on his country’s EU membership “as quickly as possible”. Wilders, who is leading opinion polls ahead of next March’s general election, vowed that if he is elected prime minister he would ask Dutch voters if they want to stay in the EU. One opinion poll last week showed 54% in favor of “Nexit,” or the Netherlands leaving the union. “We want to be in charge of our own country, our own money, our own borders and our own immigration policy,” Wilders said. The leaders of Germany and France, the EU’s two most important countries along with Britain, reacted to the vote with shocked silence at first.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande, who had previously warned of “extremely serious consequences” of a Brexit, later announced plans to hold an emergency meeting in Berlin on Monday, along with Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzo "There's no way to put a positive spin on this -- today is a setback for Europe," Merkel said in Berlin, urging the continent to remain "prudent" and analyze the situation calmly. "The EU is strong enough to find the right answers,” she said. (Ginanne Brownell Mitic) Hollande tried to keep a stiff upper lip by saying in Paris that reforms are needed in the EU to move it forward: "Europe is a grand idea, not only a market." One of Hollande's rivals in next year's presidential election, the far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, proclaimed the British vote a “victory for freedom.” The leader of Germany’s far-right anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany party, Frauke Petry, predicted “more countries could be voting to leave” if the EU doesn’t radically change its ways and return more power to the people in member countries.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it was “a sad day for Europe and Great Britain.” He added: “The news from Great Britain is truly sobering.” Germans Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel wrote on Twitter: “Damn! A bad day for Europe.” In Germany, there have been fears that the loss of its most important free-market and pro-markets ally could leave it perilously isolated on a continent with a strong socialist streak that, without Britain, would probably want even more extensive social welfare policies, protectionism and a greater distribution of wealth with even higher taxes and more state spending and intervention. “It’s a shot across the bow, but it’s not going to be the end of Europe,” Gabriel said. “We can’t raise the drawbridges now,” he added, noting the positive signal that younger Britons had overwhelmingly voted to stay in the EU. Another leader in Gabriel’s Social Democrat party said he would welcome Scotland’s independence and EU membership. “The Scots have made it clear that they see their future in Europe,” said Thomas Oppermann, the party’s leader in parliament.

“I’d welcome Scotland joining the EU.” Germans, and others in the EU, are also worried that the departure of Britain could upset what has been a delicate balance of power and force Germany into more of an unwanted and undesired leadership role -- which in turn could lead to fears in France and elsewhere of being dominated from Berlin on a continent where the ghosts of World War II are never far away. The EU, which was created as mainly an economic and trade union by a small group of nations clustered around France and the former West Germany as bastion for peace between erstwhile battlefield enemies, has turned into more powerful and political body as its size spread across the continent. It is often a favorite target of wrath by politicians across Europe when something goes wrong, and rarely gets any credit for successes. The EU especially has been reeling from its inability to fully overcome waves of crises in recent years, including the financial crisis in 2008, the eurozone crisis and the refugee crises, in which more than 1 million asylum-seekers fleeing war and famine flooded into the EU last year. Criticism of the EU in Britain has focused on one of its key tenets -- the freedom of its citizens to live anywhere in the EU.

Germany’s Martin Schulz, a leader of the European Union’s parliament, said after the British vote that there were genuine fears of contagion. “I think it will not lead to the breakup of the EU if we take seriously the enormous social gap between countries and societies, we need a better distribution of wealth.” ALSO EU referendum: Who are the Gibraltar 823? - BBC News BBC News EU referendum: Who are the Gibraltar 823? By BBC Trending What's popular and why 24 June 2016 LinkedIn Image copyright Getty Images It was the first and least surprising result of the EU referendum vote count. Gibraltar has voted overwhelmingly in favour of Britain remaining in the European Union. Gibraltar has been trending in the UK, with more than 40,000 tweets. While many discussed the vote, several revealed their lack of knowledge about the region. Image copyright Twitter Image copyright Twitter Gibraltar, is a British overseas territory at the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula and has around 30,000 residents. It's has also been a British territory since 1713, though Spain continues to claim sovereignty over the territory.

But, the majority of Gibraltarians are British citizens with British passports. 84% of Gibraltarians turned up to vote in the EU referendum. 19,322 checked the box to stay in the EU and 823 voted to leave. And it's the 823 that has intrigued Twitter. Image copyright Twitter Many have theorised that if the UK votes to leave the EU, would boost Spanish demands for the return of Gibraltar . So most people expected that a sweeping majority would vote to remain with the European Union. And they did. But who were the 823 who voted out? Cyber detectives had their ideas. Image copyright Twitter But there was some internet love for the 823. Image copyright Twitter Some mused that whoever the mysterious 823 were they would undoubtedly have a certain swagger. Image copyright Twitter/@Ankaman616 And there was the odd conspiracy theorist. Image copyright Twitter Maybe this is the start of something. Image copyright Twitter Next story Keith's mum, pencil plots and other EU referendum day trends Image copyright Bloomberg/Getty Images As millions cast their vote in the EU referendum the discussion on social media couldn't have been more British.

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Question: Europa Point is the southern tip of which British territory?
Answer: Gibraltar