Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. This chunk of Rock lies at the tip of the mainland of Spain. It has been a British Naval base since the 18th century since it was won from the Spanish by Britain. This has been a disputed territory ever since and it is a Garrison used by all the armed forces of the United Kingdom. It is at a crucial point guarding the entrance to the Mediterranean sea The name of the territory is derived from the Arabic name Jabal TÃÂriq meaning `mountain of Tariq`.It refers to the geological formation, the Rock of Gibraltar, which in turn was named for the Berber Umayyad general Tariq ibn-Ziyad who led the initial incursion into Iberia in advance of the main Moorish force in 711 under the command of Umayyad Caliph Al-Walid I. Earlier, it was known as Mons Calpe, one of the Pillars of Hercules. Today, Gibraltar is known colloquially as Gib or The Rock.
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