PILLARS OF HERCULES, SEA OF DARKNESS

[Bianca]

BENZU, MOROCCO - See map above




HUNDREDS MORE  STUNNING PICTURES  OF THIS PART OF MOROCCO AT THIS SITE:

http://splendidmorocco.skyrock.com/1.html

[Qoais]

Beautiful pictures Bianca

[Bianca]

Three species of dolphin are commonly found in the Bay of Gibraltar: the Common Dolphin, the Striped Dolphin and the large Bottle-nosed Dolphin and it is quite common to see schools of all ages and sizes.

[Bianca]

[Bianca]

VIEW OF MOROCCO FROM GIBRALTAR

[Bianca]

CEUTA, MOROCCO

[BlueHue]

CEUTA, MOROCCO

DEAR  BIANCA,
You were right I stand Corrected Vergillius Maro died in Augustus arms at Brundisium in 19 bc and Augustus himself was posioned by Livia his wife in 14 AD  Vergilius wrote the GEORGIA in 30 bc.

[Bianca]

It's OK, Blue Hue.

Let's just take it easy.  Aren't they beautiful pictures?  Maybe that's one of the reasons I like
being here at AO.  There is no space limit.

Please enjoy them  too!!!  There is still a lot of beauty everywhere.

Love and Peace,
b

[BlueHue]

It's OK, Blue Hue.

Let's just take it easy.  Aren't they beautiful pictures?  Maybe that's one of the reasons I like
being here at AO.  There is no space limit.

YES as pictures go they are creating a sunnt atmosphere, but as PILLAR's of Hercules go, I think that Islands or Ras(= Raised cities) are meant and not Mountains Alf /Kabyl or  even Temple-buildings.

[Bianca]

CAP SPARTEL - MOROCCO
 
   

                                Located just outside Tangiers is the Lighthouse at Cap Spartel.



This is a favourite stopping point, where you can sometimes see the extraordinary meeting of the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; one turquoise and the other one dark blue. The drive up to it is also stunning. Once you leave Tangiers, you'll find the air is tinged with pine and Eucalyptus scents. The views are like those on the Costa de la Luz with wide, deserted sandy beaches...

[Bianca]

CAP SPARTEL, MOROCCO

[Bianca]

CAP SPARTEL, MOROCCO

[Bianca]

Asilah, a former Portuguese fortified port, is 45 km south of Tangiers and is the first stop on the Tangiers to Marrakech rail line. The motorway to Casablanca and the southern cities starts here. It is currently (May 2005) being extended towards Tangier.

Cap Spartel is the point at which the Atlantic and the Mediterranean meet. The Caves of Hercules have been visited by every civilisation which has controlled this region from Phoenicians , Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Vandals, Portuguese ,and for a brief period in the last century, the French and Spanish.

To the east the coast road travels along the Mediterranean beaches, passing Cap Malabata, Ksar es Seghir and arriving at Ceuta (Sebta). It then turns south and runs past long ,sandy beaches to Mdiq and Martil before heading inland to Chefchaouen and the Rif Mountains.

[Bianca]

CAP SPARTEL





                            LES CAVES D' HERCULES - THE CAVES OF HERCULES






Useful Information


Location: Near Tangier. 14 km west of Tangier at Cap Spartel. 
Open:   
Classification:  Karst cave. 
Light: electric. 
   
Bibliography: S Carleton Coon (1957): Seven Caves, Archaeological Explorations in the Middle East. Jonathan Cape, London. plate 2
 
   


History
   
BC 6000 Neolithic habitation.
1878 caves "discovered".
1920 cave open to the public.
1952 National Heritage site.
1982 electric lights installed.
20-DEC-2003 closed to the public after a rockfall caused by nearby construction work.
JAN-2004 reopened after a brief examination.

[Bianca]

Description



Located 14 km west of Tangier in Cap Spartel, the north-western extremity of Africa's Atlantic coast. Cap Spartel is heavily wooded, but below it the Robinson Plage stretches off to the south. The caves are located about 100 metres from the Robinson Plage Holiday Village and surrounded by some expensive cafes.

The caves has been used as a dwelling since Neolithic times. Archaeological excavations have produced human bones and flints. For a long time locals quarried stone here, then, in the first half of the 20th century they were used as brothels, until it was found that tourists were a more lucrative venture.

It is recommended that one visits the caves very early in the morning to avoid being hassled by the locals. The Caves of Hercules are Tangiers premier tourist attraction. Apart from their great beauty and archaeological interest, they are reputed to have been the dwelling place of Hercules who founded Tangier and made the Straits of Gibraltar, with one blow from his sword.

From the entrance kiosk, the guide leads the party along a concrete path, past the old quarry working to a second entrance overlooking the Atlantic ocean. This is called "The Map of Africa", as the outline of the entrance is said to resemble this feature. This entrance is impassable at high tide.



Text by Tony Oldham (2004). With kind permission.
 

This cave and its neighbouring caves the Al Alia Cave, the Al Khil Cave and the Cave of Ace Sayfia contain prehistoric remains from the Neolithic. The findings are currently exposed at the museum of Kasba of Tangier. They include smooth, red pottery, polished rocks, cut flint and terra cotta figurines.





M O R O C C O




Located in the northern part of the African continent, adjoining the Straits of Gibraltar. The local languages are Arabic and Berber, but French is widely spoken, a relic of colonial days. About 14% of the land mass is karst supporting nearly 1000 known caves. The main limestone areas are the mountains of Er Rif, the Middle Atlas, the Anti Atlas and the High Atlas. There are two show caves: Grottes d'Hercules and Gouffre Friouato.

Morocco is inhabited since prehistoric times, during thirty centuries Prehistoric, Roman, Berber, and Arab cultures existed here. This rich past has left some surprising cave dwellings at Erfoud, Foum El Hassan, Merkala, Tamegoul, Taourirt, Taous, and Tarraga.