Rocky waters

Rocky waters

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A cloud partially covers the tip of the Rock of the British territory of Gibraltar, the focus of a recent spat between Britain and Spain, which lays claim to the rocky outpost.

Madrid reacted furiously when Gibraltar built an artificial reef in contested waters and restricted access to Spanish fishermen in July. In retaliation, Spain imposed tighter controls at its border with Gibraltar, causing long tailbacks, and sparking angry words from Britain.

. LA LINEA DE LA CONCEPCION, Spain. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Spanish fishermen protested against the creation of an artificial reef in the bay of Gibraltar, and claimed the territory's authorities were blocking their access to the waters.

For just over an hour on August 18, some 30 fishing boats circled where 70 3-tonne concrete blocks were dropped in July to form a reef that Spain said was not legal.

. GIBRALTAR, Gibraltar. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

A Spanish man with his ID card held between his teeth, ready to show police, rides his bicycle as drivers wait in line to enter Spain from Gibraltar.

Spain tightened border controls with the enclave in retaliation for the reef, and threatened to take further action, with diplomatic tension running high over the issue.

. GIBRALTAR, Gibraltar. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Spain lays claim to Gibraltar, which lies to its very south. The rocky Mediterranean outpost has a population of just 30,000 and was ceded to Britain 300 years ago.

Madrid has threatened to take the issue to the United Nations, and the European Commission has agreed to examine the situation to see if Spain's controls breach EU rules.

Panorama:

Vehicles queue up, waiting to leave Gibraltar.

Panorama Image
. Gibraltar, Gibraltar. Reuters/Jon Nazca
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Slideshow

A man takes a photo of a couple next to a Union flag at Europa Point in Gibraltar.
. GIBRALTAR, Gibraltar. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

A man takes a photo of a couple next to a Union flag at Europa Point in Gibraltar.

Another couple takes a photo of themselves on the tarmac of Gibraltar International Airport as they walk to enter Spain at its border.
. GIBRALTAR, Gibraltar. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Another couple takes a photo of themselves on the tarmac of Gibraltar International Airport as they walk to enter Spain at its border.

A man walks at Europa Point in front of the Rock of Gibraltar.
. GIBRALTAR, Gibraltar. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

A man walks at Europa Point in front of the Rock of Gibraltar.

A traffic sign stands in the middle of Winston Churchill Avenue, pointing the way to the Spanish border.
. GIBRALTAR, Gibraltar. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

A traffic sign stands in the middle of Winston Churchill Avenue, pointing the way to the Spanish border.

Drivers wait in line along the road of the Gibraltar airport.
. GIBRALTAR, Gibraltar. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Drivers wait in line along the road of the Gibraltar airport.

A woman rests on her scooter as she waits in line to enter Spain.
. GIBRALTAR, Spain. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

A woman rests on her scooter as she waits in line to enter Spain.

Workers wait to cross the border.
. GIBRALTAR, Spain. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Workers wait to cross the border.

Men play with a ball as they and other drivers queue on a hot summer's day.
. GIBRALTAR, Gibraltar. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Men play with a ball as they and other drivers queue on a hot summer's day.

A man leaves Gibraltar at its border with Spain.
. La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

A man leaves Gibraltar at its border with Spain.

People walk along a street in front of the Rock.
. LA LINEA DE LA CONCEPCION, Spain. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

People walk along a street in front of the Rock.

Men fish in front of the outcrop.
. LA LINEA DE LA CONCEPCION, Spain. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Men fish in front of the outcrop.

Fishermen clean their catch after others met to call for a massive protest over the artificial reef in Gibraltar.
. LA LINEA DE LA CONCEPCION, Spain. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Fishermen clean their catch after others met to call for a massive protest over the artificial reef in Gibraltar.

Spanish Civil Guard vessels surround a Spanish fishing boat during a protest at the site of the reef.
. LA LINEA DE LA CONCEPCION, Spain. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Spanish Civil Guard vessels surround a Spanish fishing boat during a protest at the site of the reef.

A woman shouts insults at Gibraltarian policemen in their boat, as they and the Spanish Civil Guard monitor the protest.
. LA LINEA DE LA CONCEPCION, Spain. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

A woman shouts insults at Gibraltarian policemen in their boat, as they and the Spanish Civil Guard monitor the protest.

A member of Spain's Civil Guard tries to calm down a Spanish fisherman taking part in the demonstration.
. LA LINEA DE LA CONCEPCION, Spain. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

A member of Spain's Civil Guard tries to calm down a Spanish fisherman taking part in the demonstration.

Leoncio Fernandez, head of the La Linea fishermen, holds a red flare to mark the end of the protest.
. LA LINEA DE LA CONCEPCION, Spain. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Leoncio Fernandez, head of the La Linea fishermen, holds a red flare to mark the end of the protest.