Strait of Gibraltar: The Pillars of Hercules?
How many of you have come across the term ‘Gibraltar’? Well, I first heard this term when I was preparing myself for my university admission tests which struck me with profound interest. The Strait of Gibraltar, about 60 kilometers long and 14 kilometers wide, has three distinctive characteristics. First, it is the only natural link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Second. It is one of the busiest waterways in the world. And third, it distinguishes Spain in the European continent and Morocco in the African continent.
The word “Gibraltar” comes from the Arabic phrase
“Jabal al Tariq”, where ‘Jabal’ means a mountain and Tariq refers to a Berber
commander from Northern Africa who once led an enormous military expedition to
the waterways.
The ancient name of the strait is ‘Pillars of
Hercules’. According to Greek Mythology, Hercules was supposed to cross Mount
Atlas to burglarize the herd of cattle from the giant Geryon. With his superhuman strength, he smashed through the center of the mountain and
consequently made the Strait of Gibraltar. It is also said that, at the end of
the Mediterranean, Hercules put an end mark on the world with the etching
"non plus ultra" which means ‘not beyond.’
However, the sovereignty of Gibraltar is now a disputed matter in Anglo-Spanish relations. After a war in 1713, Gibraltar fell into British hands and has since stayed with Britain. But at the same time, Spain claims its ownership over the territory. Currently, the estimated population of Gibraltar is around 34 thousand (as per the 2020 census). Communication and transportation are also feasible nowadays. They are participating in sports like football and rugby too.
Comments
Post a Comment