Strait of Gibraltar: Earth Image of the Week

Clear skies and mild temperatures prevailed over the Strait of Gibraltar region when this NASA MODIS image was taken on December 19.

The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow stretch of water between the southern Iberian Peninsula and the western tip of North Africa. At its most narrow, the strait separates Europe and Africa by just 9 miles (a little over 14 kilometers).

When NASA’s Aqua satellite passed over the region at midday on December 19, it captured the clear image to the right, which shows the strait separating the landscape of northern Morocco from the terrain of southern Spain.

The Strait of Gibraltar also separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean Sea, and has been one of the most strategic waterways for world powers over the past 400 years.

The British territory of Gibraltar can also be seen extending southward in a peninsula from the eastern part of the Spanish city of Algeciras.

The sovereignty of Gibraltar has been a major bone of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations.

Gibraltar was ceded by Spain to the Crown of Great Britain in perpetuity under the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, though Spain asserts a claim to the territory and seeks its return.

In ancient times, Gibraltar was known as Mons Calpe, one of the Pillars of Hercules.

Image: NASA MODIS Rapid Reponse System