World Bottlenecks
Tangier and the Strait of Gibraltar
Javier Arpa Fernández (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
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Abstract
The Strait of Gibraltar, a 13-kilometer passage linking the Atlantic and Mediterranean, is a nexus of ecological, economic, and geopolitical flows. It supports vital ecosystems, migratory species, and global shipping routes, while hosting a complex interplay of nations, including Spain, Morocco, Gibraltar (UK), and emerging powers like China.
Tangier, the region's focal point, is transforming through projects like the Tanger-Med Port, Africa’s first high-speed railway, and waterfront developments, solidifying its role as an industrial and tourism hub. Yet, beneath its global ambitions lies a web of local stories and socio-ecological challenges, reflecting the strait’s dual identity as a space of both global significance and local resilience.