The Strait of Gibraltar separates Europe from Africa and links the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea.
At its narrowest point, the strait is about 14 kilometers wide. Spain lies to the north, Morocco and the Spanish exclave of Ceuta lie to the south, and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar sits on the northern shore near the eastern entrance.
The strait is a major passage for shipping and for marine life moving between the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Its deep channel also allows Atlantic water to enter the Mediterranean, while denser Mediterranean water flows outward at depth.
The name comes from Jabal Tariq, Arabic for “Mountain of Tariq,” referring to the eighth-century conquest led by Ṭāriq ibn Ziyād. The ancient Romans called the surrounding headlands the Pillars of Hercules.