Gibraltar Geography Profile 2006

Location

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

36 8 N, 5 21 W

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 6.5 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries

total: 1.2 km
border countries: Spain 1.2 km

Coastline

12 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Terrain

a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

Natural resources

none

Land use

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land

NA

Natural hazards

NA

Environment - current issues

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

strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea