Strait of Gibraltar

Strait of Gibraltar Latest News

The nuclear-powered USS Gerald R. Ford lit up tracking systems while sailing hard toward the Strait of Gibraltar, a move that defense watchers say “doesn’t usually happen”.

About Strait of Gibraltar

• It is the body of water separating Europe from Africa and connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the west with the Mediterranean Sea in the east.
• It is located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. 
• Bordering Countries: It is bordered by Spain and the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar in the north and by the African country of Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in the south.
• It is about 58 km long and has a width of about 13 km at its narrowest point between Morocco’s Point Cires and Spain’s Point Marroquí. 
• The western end of the strait located between Spain’s Cape Trafalgar and Morocco’s Cape Spartel has a width of about 43 km. 
• The strait’s eastern end, located between the Rock of Gibraltar in the north and Mount Hacho or Jebel Moussa in the south, has a width of about 23 km. 
  • These two land features in the strait’s eastern extremity are known as the Pillars of Heracles. 
• The Strait of Gibraltar’s depth ranges from 300 to 900 m, and it forms a significant gap between the high plateau of Spain and the Atlas Mountains of Northern Africa. 
• Formation: Geological studies have revealed that the Strait was formed due to the northward movement of the African Plate towards the European Plate.
• It is the only natural link between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and is one of the busiest waterways in the world. Approximately 300 ships cross the Strait every day.
• Until the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the Strait of Gibraltar was the only means of oceanic access to and from the Mediterranean Sea.
• An important port located on the Strait of Gibraltar is the Moroccan port of Tanger-Med, near Tangier.
• Water Flow and Currents:
  • Water flows in and out of the Strait constantly. 
  • The Atlantic Ocean has cooler, less salty water. The Mediterranean Sea has warmer, saltier water. This difference creates strong currents. 
  • Water from the Atlantic flows into the Mediterranean near the surface. 
  • Deeper down, saltier water from the Mediterranean flows back into the Atlantic. 
  • This constant exchange helps keep the Mediterranean Sea healthy.

Source: IDR

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