Gibraltar:
Geography

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Other pages in this profile of Gibraltar:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.


Background	Definition Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK led to Spain closing the border and severing all communication links. A series of talks were held by the UK and Spain between 1997 and 2002 on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since the referendum, tripartite talks on other issues have been held with Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar, and in September 2006 a three-way agreement was signed. Spain agreed to remove restrictions on air movements, to speed up customs procedures, to implement international telephone dialing, and to allow mobile roaming agreements. Britain agreed to pay increased pensions to Spaniards who had been employed in Gibraltar before the border closed. Spain will be allowed to open a cultural institute from which the Spanish flag will fly. A new noncolonial constitution came into effect in 2007, but the UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.

Location	Definition Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
Geographic coordinates	Definition 36 08 N, 5 21 W
Map references	Definition Europe
Area	Definition - World rank and map total: 6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	Definition a little less than one half the size of Rhode Island
Land boundaries	Definition total: 1.2 km border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Coastline	Definition 12 km
Maritime claims	Definition territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate	Definition Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain	Definition a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Elevation extremes	Definition lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Natural resources	Definition none
Land use	Definition - World rank and map arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land	Definition NA
Natural hazards	Definition NA
Environment - current issues	Definition limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant
Geography - note	Definition strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

Gibraltar: Geography

Gibraltar:
Geography