| |
|
|
| |
Home
>
World
> Europe
> Gibraltar
|
General Information
Area: 6.5 sq km (2.5 sq miles).
Population: 27,025 (1998).
Population Density: 4157.6 per sq km.
Capital: Gibraltar.
GEOGRAPHY: Gibraltar is a large promontory of jurassic limestone, situated in the western entrance to the Mediterranean. The 5km-long (3 mile) rock contains 143 caves, over 48km (30 miles) of road and as many miles of tunnels. The highest point of the Rock is 426m (1400ft) above sea level. An internal self-governing British Crown Colony, Gibraltar has given its name to the Bay and the Straits which it overlooks. Spain is to the north and west, and Morocco is 26km (16 miles) to the south.
Government: British Crown Colony since 1713. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor David Durie since 2000. In December 2002 Sir Francis Richards was appointed governor and will take office in May 2003. Head of Government: Prime Minister Peter Caruana QC since 1996.
Language: English is the official language. Most Gibraltarians are bilingual in English and Spanish.
Religion: Roman Catholic majority, also Church of England, Church of Scotland, Jewish, Hindu and other minorities.
Time: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. UK-style three-pin plugs are in use.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 350. Outgoing international code: 00.
Fax
Facilities are available in some hotels.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network is operated by Gibtel. Coverage spans the whole of Gibraltar and a large part of the sea around. Handsets can be hired from Gibtel, at 25 South Barracks Road.
Internet
There is at least one Internet cafe – Cyber World, Ocean Heights Gallery, Queensway. ISPs include Gibnet (website: www.gibnet.gi).
Telegram
Enquire at Gibtel, 60 Main Street; or after office hours at Mount Pleasant, 25 South Barracks Road.
Post
Airmail within Europe takes between one and five days. Airmail flights are usually daily. There is a Poste Restante facility at the main post office in Main Street. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1630 (0900-1415 in summer), Sat 1000-1300.
Press
Newspapers are in English; some have Spanish sections. The New People, Panorama and Vox are published weekly. The Gibraltar Chronicle (est. 1801) is the only daily.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (www.voa.gov):
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
Terms and Conditions apply.
|
|
|
|
|
