Crown Colony of Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a British Crown Colony located on the southern end of the Iberian Penninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. It has an area of 6.8 square kilometres. The Rock of Gibraltar is the only landmark of the region. At its foot is the lightly populated city area, home to almost 200 Catalans and a few hundred British soldiers



History
An Anglo-Dutch force captured Gibraltar from the Kingdom of Spain in 1704 during the War of Spanish Succession on behalf of the Hapsburg pretender to the Spanish throne. The territory was subsequently ceded to Britain "in perpetuity" under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. Despite an attempt by Spain to retake Gibraltar in 1727, the territory remains under British control

Importance
Gibraltar serves an important base for the British Royal Navy, allowing it to control access to the Mediterranean. It also allows the Royal Navy a reliable port for Mediterranean operations. The Rock of Gibraltar contains several forts which have Cannon trained on Cadiz, Spain's principal port.

Government
Gibraltar is governed by a Military governer appointed by the King of Great Britain. The current governor is .