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( Strait of Gibraltar)
The Strait of Gibraltar (Arabic ???? ??? ????, Spanish Estrecho de Gibraltar) is the strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain from Morocco. The name comes from Gibraltar, which in turn originates from the Arabic Jebel Tariq (??? ????) meaning mountain of Tariq. It refers to the Umayyad Berber general Tariq ibn-Ziyad who led the Islamic conquest of Hispania in 711.[1] There is a possibility that Jebel Tariq (??? ????) may derive from "Mountain of the Path" in reference to Gibraltar as the path of Islam into Europe. Tariq (????) has three meanings in Arabic, two of which relate to "the path" or "pathfinder". Despite its origins, the Arab name for the Strait is Bab el-Zakat or "Gate of Charity". It is also known as the Straits of Gibraltar or STROG (Strait Of Gibraltar), in naval use.[2] There are 14.24 km (7.7 Nautical miles) of ocean separating Europe from Africa at the strait's narrowest point. The strait depth ranges between 300 and 900 metres (980 and 3,000&_160;ft).[3] A ferry commutes between the two continents. The Spanish part of the strait is protected under the El Estrecho Natural Park. On the northern side of the Strait is Spain and Gibraltar, while on the southern side is Morocco and Ceuta, a Spanish exclave in North Africa. Its boundaries were known in antiquity as the Pillars of Hercules. There are several small islands, such as the disputed Isla Perejil, that are claimed by both Spain and Morocco.[4] Due to its location, the strait is widely used for illegal immigration from Africa to Europe.[citation needed]
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