How Deep Is the Strait of Gibraltar?

The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow passageway located between southern Europe and northern Africa, more specifically Spain and Morocco. It is regarded as one of the most important passageways in history, politically, militarily, and economically. 

But how deep is the Strait of Gibraltar? As with all bodies of water and land masses, the size of the strait varies, depending on where you are. Let’s explore the depth of the Strait of Gibraltar, as well as other facts of the strait. We’ll also take you on an adventure on the wildlife living in and around the strait, as well as comparisons with other straits.

Depth of the Strait of Gibraltar

The Strait of Gibraltar is 2,953 feet (or 900 meters) deep at its deepest. At its most shallow, the strait is about 980 feet deep (300 meters). In terms of length, the Strait of Gibraltar is 36 miles long. 

At its narrowest point between Punta de Tarifa in southern Spain and Point Cires in northern Morocco, the Strait of Gibraltar is only 8.1 miles wide. If you stand in Spain, you can see northern Africa on a clear day. Because of the proximity, ferries cross regularly between both continents, taking only 35 minutes to cross from one continent to the other.

Wildlife in and around the Strait of Gibraltar

The Strait of Gibraltar is home to a diverse group of animals and marine life. You can spot many animals swimming in the strait if you pay close attention. On land in both Spain and Morocco, many species of animals have made their home in the area. This has prompted scientists to declare that the strait needs to be an environmentally protected area because of the increasing amounts of pollution from commercial shipping.

Flora

The flora in and around the strait is extremely diverse and one of the most diverse in the world. The Gibraltar Nature Reserve hosts more than 360 species of flora. There are olive trees, Gibraltar sea lavender, white Gibraltar chickweed, and various wildflowers. There is also a rare species of flower that is found only in Gibraltar called the Gibraltar campion. 

Fauna

There is an abundance of animals living in the strait because of its location between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The straight and surrounding areas have a substantial amount of killer whales, the only place you can find them in the Mediterranean. There are also pilot whales, striped dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, and sperm whales.

Near the strait, you can find the Gibraltar Nature Reserve, which hosts many animals like the European rabbit, mouse-eared bat, and red fox. There are also six species of snakes and five species of lizards, as well as the Moorish gecko and others. And of course, you will find many Barbary macaques.

Importance of the Strait of Gibraltar

The Strait has provided the nearby countries with a strategic military access point between Europe and Africa, as well as the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean. In 1492, the Spanish used the strait as a barrier between Morocco and Spain, in ensuring the Moors would not invade again after they were ousted from Spain. The British established an outpost in Gibraltar in 1704, which became the territory of Gibraltar. They wanted to have control of who would go in and out of the Mediterranean Sea.

The strait is also used as an important shipping route between the Atlantic and Mediterranean. However, this can also be used to the advantage of those wanting to cross into Europe illegally. There is an abundance of illegal immigration from northern Africa, rapidly becoming the most popular passageway to cross north.

Most recently, there are possible plans to create a tunnel between Morocco and Spain, similar to the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France.

Other Straits

Other straits around the world are significant in their own way. Some of them have been important in strengthening economies, and one has been a historical crossing point between continents thousands of years ago.

Bosphorus Strait

The Bosphorus Strait is located in Turkey, splitting the city of Istanbul in half. It is one of the most important straits in the world as its strategic location has made Turkey a hard-to-conquer country. The strait is also the only way for several countries like Bulgaria and Ukraine to reach the Mediterranean Sea. Turkey is in a powerful place, as it could potentially block any country from entering or exiting. 

Strait of Magellan

Located in Southern Chile, the Strait of Magellan is named after Spanish Explorer Francisco Magellan, who was the first European to discover the strait in 1520. However, for thousands of years, the Kaweqár natives, among other tribes, used canoes to navigate the strait. The importance of the strait was paramount because it was used as a sea route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. This route, along with the Beagle Channel, was discontinued when the Panama Canal was built.

Bering Strait

The Bering Strait is located between Russia and the United States and acts as the international border of said countries. The international date line also goes through the strait. The Bering Strait is an important historical passageway where many scientists believe in a theory called “The Land Bridge Theory.” It is hypothesized that humans crossed Beringia, which was an icy land mass that eventually melted and created the Bering Strait. Recent studies have supported this theory.

Things to Do in Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory, located in the southern tip of Spain, right on the Strait of Gibraltar. Although Gibraltar is quite small, 2.6 square miles, there are still several things you can do on a day trip.

For wonderful views of the strait, you can go to Europa Point or take the Gibraltar cable car across the territory to look down onto the entire territory. For some relaxation, you can lie on the beach on Catalan Bay. History lovers can go to the Great Siege Tunnels, which were a defense system dug out by the British inside the Rock of Gibraltar. You can also go to the Moorish Castle, a medieval fortress built by the Moors when they controlled Spain.

If you are yearning for some nature and exercise, hike up the Rock of Gibraltar, which is a promontory made of limestone. And while you’re at it, you can check out the Barbary macaques at Ape’s Den. To get here, you’ll have to take the cable car and stop at the middle station.

Closing Thoughts

And there you have it, that’s how deep the Strait of Gibraltar is. It is home to a diverse group of seabirds, orcas, and other marine animals that inhabit either side of the strait. The strait has historically been the entrance and exit to trading routes for many Mediterranean countries and the rest of the world. It is also home to three nations — the UK, Spain, and Morocco. This means that, economically, it has been a powerful and important passageway.

If you happen to visit Spain or Morocco soon, a little trip to Gibraltar and the strait wouldn’t be such a bad idea. You will be able to see the other side on a clear day. And the beauty you will witness will be memorable.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © marcelina1982/iStock via Getty Images