Cape Spartel, Coastal promontory at Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco
Cape Spartel is a headland at the Strait of Gibraltar where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, rising about 300 meters above the water. The site includes a lighthouse, maritime museum, restaurant, botanical garden, and caves with ancient traces of human activity.
The lighthouse was built in 1864 by Sultan Muhammad IV to guide ships through the strait safely. A naval battle took place here in 1782 during the American Revolutionary War, involving British and Franco-Spanish forces.
Local Berber communities used the caves below the cape for extracting millstones needed to process grain, a craft that shaped the landscape over centuries. You can still see the marks from this work carved into the rock faces.
You can reach the cape by National Road S701, which provides access to all facilities at the site. Morning or late afternoon visits work best if you want clearer light and fewer crowds.
The cape was the site of a 1782 naval battle between British and Franco-Spanish fleets, one of the largest sea battles of that era, yet it ended without a clear winner. This event often goes unnoticed despite its importance to maritime history.
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