Did you ever think Gibraltar was an island? If so, you’re not alone. Many distinctly remember learning that Gibraltar was an island in the Mediterranean Sea—standing independently, not attached to Spain. Yet, when you check the maps today, you’ll find that Gibraltar has always been a peninsula connected to Spain. This geographical shift is part of a broader phenomenon known as the Mandela Effect, where large groups of people share a memory of something existing or happening in a certain way, only to find it has never been that way at all.

In the context of studying and exploring landmasses and ancient civilizations, archaeologists, geologists, geographers, cartographers, and journalists—in your pursuit of understanding—it is essential to give due consideration to the Mandela Effect and examine the evidence we will be presenting here. We plan to bring this topic to mainstream media and advocate for widespread recognition and discussion within academic and scientific communities.

Many remember learning that Gibraltar was an island and even recall seeing it depicted as such on world maps. But when you look at any map now, Gibraltar is clearly attached to the southern coast of Spain. Why do so many remember it differently? Because, in another universe that some experienced, it was exactly that—an island.

We’ve been researching this geographical phenomenon, searching for physical evidence that supports people’s memories as more than just false recollections. Through our research, we’ve gathered physical evidence of Gibraltar being referred to as an “island”—and this isn’t a simple mistake. It’s residual proof of Gibraltar’s existence as an island in a parallel universe, a reality that some experienced. Allow us to share all the evidence we’ve gathered with you below.

• Gibraltar (Island Series) by Philip Dennis, published in 1977, is a fascinating case of two worlds merging. The author devoted an entire book to Gibraltar, classifying it as an island, with the word ‘Islands’ prominently displayed on the front cover. Yet, the back of the book features a map that depicts Gibraltar as it is now—a peninsula connected to Spain. This is not a mistake. What we are observing here is a blend of realities, a fusion of information. We’re still able to see fragments coming through from the world some of us experienced where Gibraltar is an island.

• Triunfo, a Spanish magazine published in Spain, features the headline ‘Gibraltar: una isla‘ (‘Gibraltar: an island’ in English) on its August 20, 1977, edition. This bold statement appears right on the front cover. Inside, on page 28, the magazine continues with the title ‘Gibraltar: una isla mediterránea’ (‘Gibraltar: a Mediterranean island’), even though the map on the following page—page 29—clearly depicts Gibraltar as a peninsula. We had to special order this rare magazine from Spain and have it shipped to the United States. It’s incredibly difficult to obtain, and we currently own three copies, as we believe they are highly valuable evidence supporting Gibraltar as an island.

• The Sea is My Grave by John L.D. Barnett, published in 2011, pays tribute to Bill Barnett and the wartime officers and men of the Royal Navy Submarine Service. As described on Amazon, the book honors their courage and determination, often displayed under horrendous conditions, as they fought against evil and for the freedom of Great Britain. It recounts Bill’s life and experiences sailing the seas aboard a British submarine. However, on page 73, Gibraltar is referred to as an ‘island’ three separate times, with the phrase ‘Island of Gibraltar’ clearly printed. How could the author, after writing an entire book about the Royal Navy of Great Britain, mistake Gibraltar for an island?

• The Ultimate World War Two Trivia Book: Unbelievable Facts, Extraordinary Accounts, and Tall Tales from the Second World War by Richard Denham and M.J. Trow, published in 2022, contains an interesting anomaly. On page 158, Gibraltar is referred to as an ‘island’ four times, with the phrase ‘The Mediterranean island of Gibraltar’ clearly printed. It’s puzzling how these two authors, who meticulously compiled a book of World War II facts, could repeatedly misidentify Gibraltar as an island.

• In his 1998 book Buried Alive, Jack Cuozzo shares his research on Neanderthals, specifically referring to Gibraltar as an island. On pages 69 and 104, Cuozzo details the examination of Neanderthal fossils, emphasizing that these fossils were studied on the “island of Gibraltar,” as mentioned on page 69.

• The 2020 book Curious Lists for Kids―Animals: 206 Fun, Fascinating, and Fact-Filled Lists refers to Gibraltar as an island. On page 45, this “fact-filled” book teaches children that the Barbary Macaque monkeys live on the “island of Gibraltar.”

• The 2017 book Children’s Illustrated Animal Atlas by DK refers to Gibraltar as an island. On page 56, this Smithsonian-endorsed book teaches children that Barbary macaques are found “on the island of Gibraltar, near Spain.” This book is available on Barnes & Noble.

• We purchased the following five photographs from HistoricImages.com. According to their FAQ, ‘The photographs come from various newspaper and news service archives across the United States.’ These are genuine vintage press photos, each describing Gibraltar as an ‘island.’ The oldest of the five dates back to 1935, showing that even then, Gibraltar was being referred to as an island.

The fact that we can still find traces of this—such as the word “island” in many references—suggests to us that Gibraltar still exists as an island in that parallel universe, but we can no longer perceive it as such in this one. It’s as though fragments of information from that universe are leaking into this one, creating two conflicting accounts: one of Gibraltar as a peninsula attached to Spain, and another as an island.

Interestingly, majority of locals in Gibraltar often encounter tourists and foreigners who mistakenly refer to Gibraltar as an island. It’s not just a mistake—there’s more to this story than meets the eye, and we’re committed to finding further evidence to prove this case.

We will continue updating this post below with more evidence as it comes in.

ABC News mistakenly labels Gibraltar as an ‘island’ in the news ticker of one of their segments covering Gibraltar as one of the few destinations accepting American couples seeking to marry during COVID in 2020. You can watch that segment directly from their YouTube channel HERE.

Even National Geographic acknowledged in a 2017 article that many people think Gibraltar is an island. There’s a reason why so many hold this belief—it’s because some of us experienced it as such and distinctly remember learning that it was, indeed, an island. That article can be found HERE.

In Antonio de Sancha’s Cronica de D. Alfonso el Onceno de este nombre, de los reyes que reynaron en Castilla y en León, published in 1787, Gibraltar is explicitly described as an island. On page 596, the text refers to it as “la isla de Gibraltar,” which translates directly to “the island of Gibraltar.” This historical reference, dating back more than 200 years, shows that even then, Gibraltar was regarded as an island. You can verify this by accessing the book on Google Books—simply click the blue button that says “Read free of charge” and scroll to page 596 to see the mention for yourself HERE.

The 2023 book Gibraltar: What Is on This Island? by Richard Miller also refers to Gibraltar as an island. You can see the book for yourself on Amazon HERE.



Gibraltar Panorama is a local newspaper that focuses on news and issues specific to the region. Below are several links to articles they’ve published in which Gibraltar is referred to as an ‘island.’ In some cases, you may need to scroll down to locate the reference. To make it easier, use the ‘Find’ tool in your browser (Ctrl+F or Command+F) and search for the word ‘island,’ which will highlight the relevant sections.
Demystifying the isthmus (2015)
Yelling at the telly (2018)
Daft island description of Gibraltar and the FCO draft (2015)
Foreign Office thinks Gibraltar is an island (2015)
Does this lady live on planet earth? (2015)

The Busy World of Richard Scarry, an animated children’s television series that aired in the mid-1990s, featured an episode titled ‘Couscous in Gibraltar,’ which depicts Gibraltar as being completely surrounded by water, portraying it as an island. You can watch a brief clip from that episode on YouTube HERE. The full-length episode is available for purchase HERE.



Below is a compilation of miscellaneous sites that refer to Gibraltar as an island. In some instances, you may need to scroll down to find the reference. To make it easier, use the ‘Find’ tool in your browser (Ctrl+F or Command+F) and search for the word ‘island,’ which will highlight the relevant sections.
Gibraltar: An English Island Dividing the Spanish and African Worlds
Pros and Cons of Living in Gibraltar