than the great apes do. Most gibbons are
mainly shades of cream, brown, black,
or gray. Some kinds have white hands
and feet. In many species the males and
females are different colors.
Gibbons eat mostly fruit. They may also
eat leaves, insects, birds’ eggs, and young
birds.
Gibbons usually have only one mate
during their lives. They live in small
family groups. These families defend
their home range with loud calls. These
sounds warn other gibbons to stay away.
#More to explore
Ape • Primate • Rain Forest
Gibraltar
As a fortress and colony, Gibraltar has
been a symbol of British military
strength since the 1700s. Commonly
referred to as the Rock, it is the site of a
British air and naval base that guards the
Strait of Gibraltar. This important
waterway between Spain and Africa connects
the Mediterranean Sea to the east
with the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
Gibraltar is a peninsula that is about 3
miles (5 kilometers) long and less than a
mile wide. It consists of a limestone
mountain that rises sharply to a height
of 1,396 feet (426 meters). A low, sandy
strip of land connects it to Spain, 1 mile
(1.6 kilometers) to the north. The Strait
of Gibraltar is to the south. Across the
strait is the African country of Morocco.
Two thirds of the residents of Gibraltar
are Gibraltarians—people born in
Gibraltar before 1925 and their descendants.
Most Gibraltarians are of mixed
British, Italian, Spanish, Maltese, and
Portuguese descent. Many of the rest of
the people are British.
Shipping, banking, and tourism are
major sources of income in Gibraltar.
The British military post and naval shipyard
are also important to the economy.
The leading manufacturing industries
are shipbuilding and ship repair.
People have lived on Gibraltar since
prehistoric times. Muslims held Gibraltar
from 711 to 1462, when they lost it
to Spain. In 1501 Gibraltar became part
of Spain. Captured by the British in
1704, it became a British colony in
1830. It was an important port inWorld
Wars I and II. Control of the territory
has remained a source of dispute
between Great Britain and Spain.
#More to explore
Spain • United Kingdom
114 Gibraltar BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Ginkgo
More than 200 million years ago several
types of ginkgo trees grew throughout
the world. Today only one type of
ginkgo still exists. Its scientific name is
Ginkgo biloba.
The ginkgo trees of today came from
China, where they grew in the wild.
People in ancient China and Japan also
grew them in the gardens of temples and
palaces. Today ginkgos grow in cities,
parks, and gardens on every continent
but Antarctica. Some plant experts
believe that groups of ginkgos no longer
grow in the wild.
Ginkgos are very hardy trees. They resist
damage from insects and fungi, plantlike
living things that sometimes grow on
trees. City pollution also does not harm
ginkgos.
Ginkgo trees have the shape of a pyramid.
They sometimes grow to be 100
feet (30 meters) tall. Their trunks may
measure as much as 8 feet (2.5 meters)
across. Ginkgo leaves are a dull graygreen
color. They have a tough, almost
rubbery texture. They are shaped like
fans with a split in the middle.
Ginkgo trees are either male or female.
Winds carry pollen from male trees to
female trees. Female trees then produce
large seeds. The seeds are round, silvery
nuts surrounded by a smelly, yellowish
covering.
People grow ginkgo trees for their
beauty and the shade they provide.
Roasted ginkgo nuts are considered special
foods in China and Japan. Ginkgo
leaves are used in some medicines.
#More to explore
Seed • Tree
Giraffe
The giraffe is the tallest living animal. It
reaches a height of 18 feet (5.5 meters)
or more. Giraffes live on the plains of
eastern Africa. The scientific name of
the giraffe is Giraffa camelopardalis.
Giraffes have a short body, but their legs
and neck are very long. The coat is light
brown with reddish brown spots. Many
giraffes have two short horns between
the ears. Giraffes have large nostrils and
a good sense of smell. Their tongues are
over 18 inches (45 centimeters) long.
Giraffes are plant eaters. They can reach
leaves at the top of trees. But they do
not eat grass. It is very hard for them to
The ginkgo is
also known as
the maidenhair
tree.
Ginkgo leaves turn golden yellow
in autumn.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Giraffe 115
reach the ground because the neck is
stiff. To drink, a giraffe must spread its
legs far apart to reach down.
Giraffes live in herds of up to 20 animals.
They use their good eyesight to
watch for danger. Lions are the giraffe’s
main enemy. Giraffes try to gallop away
from enemies, but they will fight if necessary.
They can run more than 30 miles
(48 kilometers) an hour.
A female giraffe gives birth to one calf at
a time. The newborn can usually follow
its mother around within hours. Giraffes
live about 20 to 25 years.
Giraffes are still common in eastern
Africa. They are protected there inside
national parks. In other places, however,
hunting has reduced the number of
giraffes. People use giraffe skin to make
leather.
Girl Scouts and
Girl Guides
#see Scouting.
Glacier
A glacier is a large area of thick ice that
