West of Tangier, Morocco, at Cape Spartel, a rare phenomenon is visible: It’s where an ocean meets a sea. The promontory overlooks the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, which is a thin sliver of saltwater that divides the European continent from North Africa and marks the border of the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
Not far south of the overlook is another notable landmark. As my video above shows, the Caves of Hercules open up to the Atlantic, allowing the surf to roll in through their mouth. Mythology tells that the caves were visited by the Greco-Roman demigod Hercules, who rested in their shelter after completing his 12 Labors.
The inspiration of the Caves of Hercules’ name is one of many examples of foreign influence in the Tangier area. The city’s strategic location on the southern shore of the Strait of Gibraltar has made it a natural lair over the centuries for intriguing figures like Bedouin raiders, Barbary pirates, and secret agents. To learn more about the latter, check out my feature article “Tangier: City of Spies.”
Related Content
– Click to read my short story “Bargain in the Kasbah” about my encounter with a clever Berber shopkeeper in Tangier’s ancient medina.
– Click to view my high-resolution photo collection from the Moroccan cities of Tangier and Casablanca.
– Click to read my feature article “Alabama: The Mystery of the Welsh Caves” to learn about how a little-known cave system built by man links a medieval legend, a colonial expedition, and the greatest cataclysm in human history.