ALGECIRAS

port town, Cadiz province, in the autonomous community (region) of Andalusia, in extreme southern Spain, across the Bay of Gibraltar from Gibraltar. The port, at the mouth of the Ro de la Miel, was founded in 713 by Moors and is probably on the site of the Roman Portus Albus; its Arabic name, al-Jazirah al-Khadra', means Green Island, in reference to the offshore Isla Verde. The port was taken by Alfonso XI of Castile in 1344, then recaptured and destroyed in 1368 by the Moors. It was refounded in 1704 by Spanish refugees from Gibraltar and in 1760 was rebuilt by Charles III on its present rectangular plan. The Algeciras Conference (q.v.) was held in 1906 in the Casa Consistorial (Town Hall). The town's main commercial activity is connected with the port, which is a stopping place for transatlantic shipping and handles many passengers, especially from the ferry services to and from Tangier and other ports in Morocco. Tourism, based on the mild winter climate, is growing. Algeciras also has ice-making and preserving plants, and fishing and fish salting are the main occupations. Local agricultural products include cereals, tobacco, hogs, and cattle. Pop. (1981) 86,042.