The Strait of Gibraltar, which connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, is one of the busiest waterways in the world. Approximately 300 commercial vessels pass through each day, making it a vital transportation route between Europe, Africa, North America and Asia. The services provided to passing ships, especially refueling, are an important economic factor for the neighboring regions of Spain, Morocco and Gibraltar.
The Pillars of Hercules
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 token of his westward journey.
In the present day, the Strait of Gibraltar continues to be governed by the neighboring powers of Spain, Morocco and Gibraltar. Each of the three maintains military bases along its own coastline, underscoring the strategic importance of the Strait. While Gibraltar remains under British control, Spain has a strategic presence through its Ceuta enclave on Moroccan territory.
