The Strait of Gibraltar is a natural separation between two seas: the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and between two continents: Europe and Africa. Even geologically, the strait represents the fissure of the two tectonic plates: the Eurasian plate and the African plate.
 |
| Strait of Gibraltar |
History
A million years ago there was no strait, only a mountain range from Africa to Portugal. The Mediterranean was a deep valley up to three thousand meters deep. As a result of a fold in the tectonic plate coming from the Atlantic and a move away from America that cracked the weak ring existing in the area, the waters of the Atlantic rushed towards the valley causing a monstrous waterfall about thirty kilometers wide and two thousand meters High. The precipitation lasted about a hundred years until the waters leveled off. The environment underwent a very important geological and climatic change and what is now called the Mediterranean Sea was created.
 |
| Strait of Gibraltar |
Natural Park
The Strait Natural Park is located at the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula and protects the maritime-terrestrial space of the coastline from Ensenada de Getares (Algeciras) to Cabo de Gracia (Tarifa). The coasts of the park are washed by two seas, in the east by the Mediterranean Sea and in the west by the Atlantic Ocean. The Strait of Gibraltar, which joins these seas and separates Europe from Africa, is a place of passage for migratory birds and marine mammals.
The minimum distance between the two continents is only 14 km and since prehistoric times this pass is also a migratory route for men. This protected area is the southernmost natural park on the European continent and unites ecological, scenic, historical and cultural values of unique characteristics. The union of two seas turns the marine environment into a privileged enclave that houses an exceptional biodiversity of extraordinary interest.
 |
| Strait of Gibraltar |
The Strait of Gibraltar has been related to the possible dispersal of primitive Homo from Africa to Europe (without papers), as a consequence of the short distance between these continents in this area. Abundant remains of lithic industries show that the region has been populated by man since the Lower Paleolithic. From the Middle Palaeolithic, which was characterized by the predominance of Mousterian culture, we know the presence of Neanderthal Man. Archaeological studies carried out in the Cabililla de Benzú de Ceuta, on the African shore of the Strait of Gibraltar, suggests new means of communication between Africa and Europe.
According to researchers from the University of Cádiz, there are more and more indications that Neanderthal man passed through the Strait to Europe. The Campo de Gibraltar region was one of the last known habitats of this human species. Excavations in nearby Gorham's Cave in Gibraltar indicate that Neanderthals were extinct only 24,000 years ago. The Neanderthal was a contemporary of modern man, who arrived in Europe about 40,000 years ago.