Strait of Gibraltar

Introduction

• Strait of Gibraltar:
  • Also known as Pillars of Hercules by the Ancients and Romans
  • Narrow channel connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea
  • Distance between Africa and Europe is only 13 km

Importance

• Major impact on the economies of both continents
  • Connects the 450 million population of the European Union and the 1.5 billion of Africa
  • Growth in trade, transport, and tourism

Current Status

• No bridge has been built yet
  • Several proposals have been made
  • Financial and political issues are main reasons

Geographical Information

• Length: 57 km
• Width: 8 miles (13 km)
• Depth: average 1200 feet (365 meters)

Comparison with Other Waterways

• Suez Canal: Man-made, narrower width
• Panama Canal: 14,000 ships per year
• Strait of Gibraltar: More than 100,000 ships per year

Commercial Activities

• Approximately 300 oil vessels pass daily
• Spain's Algeciras port and Morocco's Tangier port are rapidly growing

Challenges of Building a Bridge

Cost

• Estimated cost: 5 to 20 billion dollars
• Political disagreement:
  • Dispute over costs between Spain and Morocco

Feasibility

• Comparison with the UK-France Channel Tunnel
• Will it generate necessary revenue?
• Morocco's GDP is only 130 billion dollars

Construction Challenges

• Depth of the strait (3000 feet) and construction of high pillars
• Risks of water currents and tectonic plates
• Climate change and fragile geological structure

Alternative Solutions

• Idea of a tunnel
• Growing number of African refugees in Europe

Conclusion

• Several reasons for the absence of a bridge on the Strait of Gibraltar
• Possible future solutions and ideas

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These notes provide a brief overview of the importance of the Strait of Gibraltar and the reasons for the absence of a bridge.