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Gibraltar is a British overseas territory that overlooks the Strait of Gibraltar and located near the southern tip of the Iberian Isthmus. The territory shares a border with Spain, and is one of the most densely populated territories in the world. The 2005 population estimate was 27,921 with a density of 4,290 /km² (11,154 /sq mi). The climate is Mediterranean, with easygoing winters and warm summers. The Rock itself is 426 meters (1,398 feet high) of limestone. A nature reserve, home to the only wild monkeys found in Europe, covers most of the upper region. Commonly referred to as apes, there are more than 200 Barbary Macaques who call the nature reserve home.
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As an overseas territory of the UK, Gibraltar’s head of state is Queen Elizabeth II. She is represented by the Governor of Gibraltar. A new Governor, Lt General Sir Robert Fulton KBE, replaced Sir Francis Richards in September 2006. The head of Government is the Chief Minister officially appointed by the Governor, currently Peter Caruana. He is responsible for matters of security and defense. The government of Gibraltar issues their unit of currency, the Gibraltar Pound, which is equal to the Great Britain Pound.
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Spain reluctantly turned Gibraltar over to Great Britain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, and Gibraltar was officially declared a colony in 1830. Gibraltar is a part of the European Union by virtue of Britain's membership, with exemption from some areas such as the Common Agricultural Policy and Customs Union. As a result of the continued Spanish claim, the issue of sovereignty is a hot topic in Gibraltar politics. All local political parties are against any transfer of sovereignty to Spain. Instead they support self-determination, and the main UK opposition parties support this policy as well. In September 2006 an agreement was signed between the UK, Gibraltar and Spain. Britain agreed to pay pensions to Spaniards who had been employed in Gibraltar before 1969- when the border closed. Gibraltar will allow Spain to open a cultural institute from which the Spanish flag will fly. Spain agreed to improve the amount of telephone lines into Gibraltar, allow airlines other than British to serve Gibraltar, and to expedite customs procedures.
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