Gibraltar Nature Reserve
| Gibraltar Nature Reserve | |
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IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)
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View north along the spine of the Rock of Gibraltar, within the nature reserve looking towards Spain.
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The nature reserve is coloured in the light shaded area, facing the Alboran Sea.
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| Location | Rock of Gibraltar, Great Gibraltar Sand Dune, Windmill Hill and Europa Foreshore, British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, United Kingdom |
| Nearest city | Gibraltar |
| Coordinates | 36°08′43″N 05°20′35″W / 36.14528°N 5.34306°WCoordinates: 36°08′43″N 05°20′35″W / 36.14528°N 5.34306°W |
| Established | 1993 (extended in 2013) |
| Governing body | Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society on behalf of the Government of Gibraltar |
The Gibraltar Nature Reserve (formerly the Upper Rock Nature Reserve) is a protected nature reserve in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar that covers over 40% of the country's land area. It was established as the Upper Rock Nature Reserve in 1993 under the International Union for Conservation of Nature's category Ia (strict nature reserve) and was last extended in 2013. It is known for its semi-wild population of Barbary macaques, and is an important resting point for migrating birds.
Originally named the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, it was limited to the upper part of the Rock of Gibraltar, a long and narrow limestone peninsula that rises to a height of 426 metres (1,398 ft) above sea level. The Rock is part of the Betic Cordillera, formed about 200 million years ago. From the crest of the rock there is a dramatic view of the area, including Spain across the Bay of Gibraltar and Jebel Musa of Morocco across the Strait of Gibraltar. It is an area of considerable natural beauty and one of the main tourist attractions in Gibraltar.
The Upper Rock area of the nature reserve can be reached by road or by the Gibraltar Cable Car, next to the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens.
The reserve was established in 1993 to protect the area of land that the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence had decommissioned from military use. Its purpose is to preserve the wildlife and natural and historical sites, while providing access to the public. The flora and fauna of the nature reserve are protected by the law of Gibraltar.
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Wikipedia