Gibraltar Nature Reserve, Protected reserve on the Rock of Gibraltar, United Kingdom
Gibraltar Nature Reserve is a protected area covering roughly two-fifths of the territory on the Rock of Gibraltar. Steep limestone cliffs rise more than 400 meters above the Mediterranean Sea and form a dramatic natural boundary.
The area functioned as a military base for centuries before becoming a nature reserve in 1993. This shift marked when the site transitioned from purely strategic use to environmental protection.
This place shapes Gibraltar's identity, where military past and nature conservation exist side by side in the landscape. Visitors encounter fortifications woven into the hillside as part of the everyday surroundings here.
The reserve can be accessed through several entry points, including Jews Gate, Moorish Castle, and the Cable Car station. Wear comfortable shoes since the pathways wind through hilly and rocky terrain.
The site hosts Europe's only wild population of Barbary macaques, which roam freely in the upper sections. These primates are so well-known here that many visitors come specifically to see them.
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