The Strait of Gibraltar is not just a scenic spot, but also one of the world’s busiest waterways. It connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea and is crossed by around 300 commercial vessels every day. This makes it a vital transport route for international trade and supply chains. It also generates business for refueling, maintenance, and catering services in the surrounding regions of Spain, Morocco, and Gibraltar.
Europe is nowhere closer to Africa than there. In Greek mythology, the mountains on either side, Jebel Musa on the Moroccan side and the Rock of Gibraltar on the Iberian side, represent the Pillars of Hercules. According to myth, Hercules created these pillars during his tenth labor, either by splitting a mountain or by erecting them as a symbol of his westward journey.
Today, the Strait of Gibraltar is governed by the neighboring powers of Spain, Morocco and Gibraltar. All three powers maintain military bases along their coastlines, underlining the strategic importance of the Strait. While Gibraltar remains under British control, Spain has a presence on Moroccan territory through its enclave of Ceuta.
