Fig Tree Cave facts for kids

Fig Tree Cave is a cool cave in Gibraltar, which is a British territory. It's found on the eastern side of the famous Rock of Gibraltar. You can find it inside the beautiful Upper Rock Nature Reserve, not far from another cave called Martin's Cave.

A Look Back in Time: Fig Tree Cave's History

Fig Tree Cave has an interesting past. In 1704, a man named Simón Susarte led about 500 Spanish soldiers. He was a goatherd who had been sent away from Gibraltar. He guided the soldiers up the east side of the Rock. Their goal was to take back Gibraltar, which had been captured by British and Dutch forces earlier that year.

The soldiers spent the night of November 10, 1704, in this cave and Martin's Cave. The next day, they tried to climb higher. But their plan didn't work out. They ran out of ammunition, and no extra help arrived. This story was told by William Jackson, who was once the Governor of Gibraltar.

About 150 years later, in the 1860s, a man named Captain Frederic Brome became interested in the caves. He was the Governor of the Military Prison on Windmill Hill. Captain Brome asked for permission to explore several caves, including Fig Tree Cave, St. Michael's Cave, and Martin's Cave.

He wanted to find old objects or signs that people had used these caves a long time ago. The Governor of Gibraltar said yes. Ten prisoners were even allowed to help with the digging and exploring, starting at Martin's Cave.

Exploring the Cave

The entrance to Fig Tree Cave is quite small. It opens up into a space that is about 1 meter (3 feet) high. The main part of the cave is roughly 2 meters (7 feet) by 3 meters (10 feet) wide.

Inside, there's a path that slopes steeply downwards at about 40 degrees. This path eventually leads to a muddy area. The animals and plants you might find in Fig Tree Cave are very similar to those in the nearby Martin's Cave. Remember, this cave is part of the protected Upper Rock Nature Reserve.