Facts, figures and other information about Gibraltar.

FACTS
Name of territory: Gibraltar
Status: self-governing part of UK, claimed by Spain
Population: 28,875 (Jan 2008 estimate)
GDP (PPP): $1,066 million
GDP per capita: $38,200
Currency: Gibraltar pound (GIP)
Capital: Gibraltar Town
Area: 5.8 km2 (2.25 sq miles)
Major languages: English, Spanish
Vernacular: Llanito
Major religion: Christianity
Ethnic groups: Gibraltarian (of mixed Genoese, Maltese, Portuguese and Andalusian
descent), other British, Moroccan and Indian
Life expectancy: 76 (men), 82 (women)
Main exports: Petroleum (re-exports), manufactured goods
Internet domain: .gi
International dialling code: +350
Time zone: CET (UTC+1); CEST (UTC+2)
Motto: Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti (No Enemy Shall Expel Us)
Patron saint: Bernard of Clairvaux and Our Lady of Europe

HOLIDAYS 2010
Gibraltar observes the same official holidays as the UK. In addition, National Day and dates with reference to the British Commonwealth are also observed.
New Year’s Day: January 1
Commonwealth Day: March 8
Good Friday: April 2
Easter Monday: April 5
May Day: May 3
Spring Bank Holiday: May 31
Queen’s Birthday: June 14
Late Summer Bank Holiday: August 30
Gibraltar National Day: September 10
Christmas Day : December 27
(in lieu of Saturday 25 December)
Boxing Day: December 28 (in lieu of Sunday 26 December)

MEDIA
Television and radio services in Gibraltar are operated by the Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). GBC operations are overseen by a board, modelled on the BBC’s board of governors. Radio and TV stations based in Spain and broadcasts for British forces in the territory can be received.

Print: The Gibraltar Chronicle (daily); Panorama (online news); Insight Magazine (monthly)

Television: GBC Television (operated by GBC)

Radio: Radio Gibraltar (operated by GBC);
BFBS Radio Gibraltar (for British forces)

Source: BBC

GEOGRAPHY
Gibraltar is a peninsula situated at the southern end of Spain opposite the Moroccan coastline. It has a population of about 30,000.

Gibraltar’s climate is relatively temperate. It is not at all uncommon for up to 90 days without rain during the summer months when the sun shines approximately 10.5 hours daily. Summer lows might reach 13ºC but most days the temperature will hover nearer the high 30sºC.

Two winds embrace Gibraltar, each bringing different meteorological phenomena. The first comes from the east and brings a humidity factor that sometimes crowns the rock with a cloud of its own. The second, usually coming from the west, brings clear, dry weather.

The territory covers 6.843 km2 (2.642 sq mi). It shares a 1.2 km (0.75 mi) land border with Spain. On the Spanish side is the town La Línea de la Concepción, a municipality of Cádiz province. The part of Cádiz province next to Gibraltar is Campo de Gibraltar, literally Gibraltar Countryside.

The shoreline measures 12 km. There are two coasts (sides) of Gibraltar: the east side, which contains the settlements of Sandy Bay and Catalan Bay, and the west side, where the vast majority of the population lives.

Gibraltar has negligible natural resources and few natural freshwater resources, limited to natural wells in the north. Until recently Gibraltar used large concrete or natural rock water catchments to collect water.

Gibraltar is one of the most densely populated territories in the world, with approximately 4,290 inhabitants per km2. The growing demand for space is being met by land reclamation. Reclaimed land currently comprises approximately 1/10 of the territory’s total area.

The Rock itself is made of limestone and is
426 m high. It contains many tunnelled roads, most of which are operated by the military and closed to the public.

ARMS OF GIBRALTAR

The Arms consist of a triple-towered castle with a golden key granted to “the most loyal city of Gibraltar” by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain in 1502.

The words usually found underneath the Arms are Montis Insignia Calpe (Badge of the Rock of Gibraltar).

These words also appear on the colours of the Suffolk Regiment, which obtained permission to have the Arms of Gibraltar inscribed on their colours in recognition of the gallant part they played in the Siege of Gibraltar.

The motto Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti (No Enemy Shall Expel Us) also occasionally appears under the Arms of Gibraltar.

It was copied from the official seal of the colony. This consists of a picture of the Rock with these words underneath.

FLAG OF GIBRALTAR

The flag of Gibraltar is an elongated banner of the arms of Gibraltar, granted by Royal Warrant Queen Isabella of Castille on July 10, 1502.

The flag is described in documents from then as: “An escutcheon on which the upper two thirds shall be a white field and on the said field set a red castle, and below the said castle, on the other third of the escutcheon, which must be a red field in which there must be a white line between the castle and the said red field, there shall be a golden key which hangs by a chain from the said castle.”

According to ancient and heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated with colours. The colours on the Gibraltar flag represent peace and honesty (white) and hardiness, bravery, strength and valour (red).

The flag of Gibraltar has two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with an emblem of a three-towered red castle in the centre of the white band.

BARBARY APES

The apes are a species of tailless monkey called Barbary macaques. These Macaques can be found in Morocco and Algeria, with those in Gibraltar being the only free-living monkeys in Europe today. There are about 160 monkeys living in Gibraltar in two main areas. About 20 of them at Apes’ Den can be observed closely. However, the largest pack resides in the Great Siege area.

Behaviour (things to look out for)

Pouting: a warning to keep your distance.

Tooth chattering: used to calm down and make-up after confrontations

Grooming: keeps fur clean and is a social activity. They spend about 20% of their day grooming each other. At stressful times adults may grab an infant, hold it between them and tooth-chatter. This behaviour, unique to Barbary Macaques, is thought to help keep peace in the group.

Male macaques live for about 15–17 years and females for 18–22 years. Every birth and death is recorded and each ape is given an official name at birth. 

In 1915 the government provided the army with money to feed the monkeys and reduce their roaming and marauding. Responsibility has now reverted back to the government of Gibraltar.

The monkeys often supplement their diet with a few wild plants and can sometimes be seen foraging in the early morning.

They are used to people so you can get close to them. Some may permit people to approach them but do not touch them. Monkeys will bite if frightened or annoyed.

They spend over 30% of their day interacting with visitors but are still semi-wild animals.

They need time to rest and take part in other ‘monkey activities’, advises the tourism authority.