GIBRALTAR, ji-brartar (Sp. h8-bral tie), a town and strongly fortified rocky penin sula at the southern extremity of Spain, prov ince of Andalusia, at•the western entrance of the Mediterranean, belonging to Great Britain. This remarkable fortress, which lies opposite Ceuta in Africa (distance between Europa Point and Ceuta 141/4 miles), and forms the key to the Mediterranean, is connected with the mainland of Spain by a low sandy isthmus, the peninsula having the Bay of Gibraltar on the west and the open sea of the Mediterranean on the east. The British territory has a length of two and th•ee-fourths miles and a greatest breadth of three-fourths of a mile, the greater part of it consisting of *the rock,* at the foot of which, on the north, is a race course, ceme tery, etc. The highest point of the rock is about 1,400 feet above sea-level. Its north face is almost perpendicular, while its east side also presents tremendous precipices. On the south it is almost inaccessible, making approach from seaward impossible; the west side, again although nearly as rugged and precipitous as the others, slopes toward the sea; and here the rock is secured by extensive and powerful bat teries and other works, rendering it apparently impregnable. The body of the rock consists of a kind of dense limestone arranged in beds of 30, 40 and 50 feet in thickness. There are a number of remarkable caves in various parts of the rock, but all difficult of access.
Vast sums of money and an immense amount of labor have been spent in fortifying this cele brated stronghold. Numerous caverns and gal leries, extending two to three miles in length, and of sufficient width for carriages, have been cut in the solid rock, forming safe and sheltered communications from one part of the garrison to another in cases of attack. Along these gal leries are port-holes opening toward the bay or toward the Spanish territory (between which and the British territory there is a strip known as 'the neutral ground") ; while trees, shrubs and flowers of various kinds have been planted at different points, both for ornament and util ity. On the summit of the rock there are bar racb, signal-stations, etc. Of late years the fortifications have been carefully strengthened at every vulnerable point, and guns of the new est construction have been mounted in them.
Gibraltar has a naval dockyard, and is a vic tualing and coaling station of the British navy. Great harbor works have been constructed, in cluding a large area of sea enclosed by massy walls, and graving-docks large enough to ac commodate the largest battleships. There are three extensive moles, respectively one mile, 3,660 feet and 2,717 feet in length. The ma terials have been mostly brought from the east side of the rode by means of a tunnel specially constructed for this purpose. Vessels entered in 1914, 4,247, with a tonnage of 6,323,658 tons.
The town of Gibraltar is situated on the west side of the peninsula, fronting the bay. It consists of two portions, the North Town and the South Town, the former being much the larger and separated from the South Town by the Alameda Gardens, parade ground, etc. The principal buildings are the governor's house, the naval hospital, the civil hospital, the garri son library, the courthouse, revenue offices, remains of an old Moorish castle, and the bar racks. The water for the supply of the town and garrison is collected in tanks during the rainy season. Splendid reservoirs for water have recently been constructed by the govern _ ment. Gibraltar is a free port, and serves as a valuable entrepot for the distribution of British manufactures to the neighboring countries. The administration is that of a Crown colony, and is vested in the governor, who is also commander-in-chief of the troops. The settle ment is treated as a garrison town, the power of enacting laws being vested in the governor alone. All criminal cases are determined ac cording to the laws of England. Newcomers to Gibraltar are stringently looked after. For eigners are permitted to remain during speci fied periods only, and on giving the required security. The revenue for 1914 was i89,721, and expenditure, #121,424. The currency is British, but Spanish money is freely circulated. The population in 1911 included 19,586 civilians and 5,340 military. The permanent residents are of very various origin — Spanish, Portu guese, Maltese, etc.