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The '''Strait of Gibraltar''' is the stretch of water that separates [[Europe]] from [[Africa]] and joins the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. It has been strategically and economically important since vessels began venturing into the Atlantic towards the end of the second millennium B.C. The “Pillars of Hercules.” (In Latin, ''Fretum Herculeum'' or ''Fretum Gaditanum''.) It traditionally marked the western boundary of the ancient [[Greece|Greek]] and [[Roman]] worlds - although [[Cadiz]] (''“Gades”'') on the Atlantic coast of Spain was founded by the [[Phoenicia]]ns in about 1100 BC.   

The '''Strait of Gibraltar''' is the stretch of water that separates [[Europe]] from [[Africa]] and joins the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. It has been strategically and economically important since vessels began venturing into the Atlantic towards the end of the second millennium B.C. The Romans called it the “Pillars of Hercules,” (in Latin, ''Fretum Herculeum'' or ''Fretum Gaditanum''.) It traditionally marked the western boundary of the ancient [[Greece|Greek]] and [[Roman]] worlds - although [[Cadiz]] (''“Gades”'') on the Atlantic coast of Spain was founded by the [[Phoenicia]]ns in about 1100 BC.   

It is approximately 58 km. (36 miles) long. Its northern (European ) coast stretches from  Spanish Cape Trafalgar in the west to Europa Point at the eastern side of the Bay of Trafalgar in the east.  Its southern coastline stretches from Cape Spartel in [[Morocco]] in the west to Punta Almina  in the Spanish African enclave of Ceuta in the east. Between Capes Trafalgar and Spartel  it is 43km. (27 miles) wide – at the “Pillars of Hercules” (Rock of Gibraltar) and Mount Hacho in Ceuta) it is 23 km. (14 miles) wide. It is 13 km  (7.75 miles) wide at its narrowest point.

It is approximately 58 km. (36 miles) long. Its northern (European ) coast stretches from  Spanish Cape Trafalgar in the west to Europa Point at the eastern side of the Bay of Trafalgar in the east.  Its southern coastline stretches from Cape Spartel in [[Morocco]] in the west to Punta Almina  in the Spanish African enclave of Ceuta in the east. Between Capes Trafalgar and Spartel  it is 43km. (27 miles) wide – at the “Pillars of Hercules” (Rock of Gibraltar) and Mount Hacho in Ceuta) it is 23 km. (14 miles) wide. It is 13 km  (7.75 miles) wide at its narrowest point.