Rota, Spain

Do you know of a nautical post that has been providing great assistance to other countries? One can be spotted among the elite circle of the European Union (EU). With roughly about 27, 000 inhabitants, Rota, Spain is a town in the province of Cadiz that belongs to the region of Andulasia. Surrounded by Jerez, El Puerto de Santa Maria and Chipiona, the place is situated on the Atlantic Coast which is in the middle of Gibraltar and Portugal.

According to the history of Rota, Spain, the evidences found by some archaeologists suggested that the place has already been occupied even in the Bronze Age. Similar to the province of Malaga, it is believed that the Phoenicians were the persons who made the initial discovery. It is also said that the town been assumed to be the Astaroth of the Tartesians. Later on, the Romans were in possession who dubbed the place as "Speculum Rotae."

When the Moors, medieval Muslims from the Iberian Peninsula, stepped into the territories of the country, Rota, Spain was called "Rabita Rutta", where the current name has been taken from. Starting in 1248 and the succeeding years, the Moors were forced out of the town in the Reconquest Period. There was even an Inquisition created wherein the locals were totally decided to annihilate the non- Christians.

In 1297, Rota, Spain was honored by Sancho IV "The Brave" of Castile to a certain Alonso Perez de Guzman, founder of the dukes of Medina Sidonia. The place was handed down by Sancho IV as a reward when de Guzman was able to defend the small municipality of Tarifa. Since the town already entered the epoch where building fortresses were necessary, the construction of the Castillo de la Luna began. Nestled at the front of the Mediterranean Sea, the castle was built as a coastal protection.

Today, Rota, Spain obtains revenues from its tourism industry. You can spot a lot of mushrooming resorts that have been accommodating visitors coming from all over the continent of Europe. When it is not the summer season, the fishing industry is the chief commercial activity. The town is also home to the Naval Station where the United States' fleet units and air mobilities have been benefiting much.

The Naval Station is under the administration of the Agreement for Defense Cooperation. The American Navy takes full responsibility in the maintenance of the infrastructure which consists of a field that is 670 acres wide. Not to mention, there are also 426 facilities, 3 operating harbors and 806 houses. The Spanish government, in the otherhand, backs up in the area of venue management.