The name Algeciras comes from the Arabic al-jazeera which means "the island" from which the Algiers as well as Al Jazeera are derived. The original Arabic name for this however is completely spelled out as 'Al-Jazeera Al-Khudra' which means the Green Island .
This port city in the south of Spain is therefore aptly named Algeciras as it faces the Mediterranean and is sprawling round the far side of the bay towards the Gibraltar . It is located to the north from Tarifa and is the southernmost town of the country with the points 36 5 It has a total area of 86 km and a population total (2005) of 111,283 in the city proper. Population density is measured at 1.294,0 hab/km and the modern harbor here is declared as the 49th busiest harbor in the world on year 2003 especially considering much traffic coming from Africa.
Algeciras is primarily a port and industrial center that also supports the huge deep-water container port and oil refinery that is nearby. In here there are many Moroccans particularly on the months of July and August when migrant workers go back home for their holidays from work in France, Holland or Belgium. Because of this, there is a strong Arab influence here as apparently seen in the back streets, where you can find several tea shops which specialize in Moroccan mint tea. Such combination of Arab and Spanish culture gives this beautiful city an unusual air of individuality about it making it a very genuine place even amidst the real port atmosphere.
Algeciras
