Gibraltar, located on the southern end of Spain, is a British overseas territory. A peninsula sharing its northern border with Andalusia, it has an area of 6.843 square kilometres. The major landmark of the region is the Rock of Gibraltar and at its foot is the densely populated urban area which is home to just under 30,000 Gibraltarians and other nationalities.
During the War of the Spanish Succession, an Anglo-Dutch force seized Gibraltar in 1704. Under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, the territory was ceded to Britain by Spain “in perpetuity.” An important base for the British Royal Navy; today tourism, financial services, and shipping comprise its economy. Gibraltar remains a principal point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations as Spain claims a right to the territory. In a 1967 referendum and a subsequent 2002 one, Gibraltarians rejected transference to Spanish sovereignty. Gibraltar governs its own affairs, including its flower delivery services, though some powers (such as foreign relations and defense) are the UK Government’s responsibility.