Strait of Gibraltar

The Strait of Gibraltar

The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. It separates Europe from Africa. At its narrowest point, the two continents are only about 14 kilometers apart. Ferries cross this distance every day in just 35 minutes.

The Strait of Gibraltar lies in the waters of Morocco, Spain, and Gibraltar, which is a British overseas territory. The water in the strait is deep, ranging from 300 to 900 meters. Because of international rules, ships and airplanes from many countries can freely travel through the strait.

The Strait of Gibraltar is named after the Rock of Gibraltar. People have used many names for the strait over time. In Arabic, it is sometimes called "Gate of the West" or "Gate of the sunset". The ancient Greeks and Romans also called it the "Pillars of Hercules" because of the tall mountains on each side.

The Strait of Gibraltar is very important for many birds. Hundreds of thousands of seabirds fly through it every year between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. There is also a group of orcas near the Strait. These orcas are one of the few groups left in Western European waters.

People have crossed the Strait of Gibraltar in different ways, such as swimming, powered paragliding, and paddleboarding. Mercedes Gleitze was the first person known to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar in 1928. Francesco Stipo was the first person known to cross using a powered paraglider in 1995. Chris Ziaja and Nik Benner were the first people known to cross on a stand up paddleboard in 2010.