# What would be the response to the Straits of Gibraltar getting blocked? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-response-to-the-straits-of-gibraltar-getting-blocked/435930 "2008-02-02T00:36:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-response-to-the-straits-of-gibraltar-getting-blocked/435930/1 "2008-02-02T00:36:21Z")
Suppose there were an earthquake accompanied by a big uplift of land blocking the Straits. Or a major volcanic eruption. Either way, the Straits are physically closed. What happens next? For instance, would you expect the digging of a canal? Putting a fence up to stop immigration from North Africa? Or would there be new ports either side? Or… well, you tell me. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-response-to-the-straits-of-gibraltar-getting-blocked/435930/2 "2008-02-02T00:52:03Z")
It’s already [happened.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messinian_Salinity_Crisis) ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-response-to-the-straits-of-gibraltar-getting-blocked/435930/3 "2008-02-02T04:18:02Z")
> [@](#): > > What would be the response to the Straits of Gibraltar getting blocked? 1. Weeping 2. Wailing 3. Gnashing of teeth 4. Canal plans ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-response-to-the-straits-of-gibraltar-getting-blocked/435930/4 "2008-02-02T04:28:29Z")
A big ol’ canal, probably within five years. Possibly dug with small nuclear explosives. People would be willing to put up with a lot of crap to get that reopened. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-response-to-the-straits-of-gibraltar-getting-blocked/435930/5 "2008-02-02T05:10:42Z")
Another vote for the canal. I can’t see the major economies in Europe leaving a major waterway shortcut blocked for long. Might take 5 years alone for the parliamentary debates about it, though. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-response-to-the-straits-of-gibraltar-getting-blocked/435930/6 "2008-02-02T12:15:40Z")
Mediterranean ports would be in dire straits. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-response-to-the-straits-of-gibraltar-getting-blocked/435930/7 "2008-02-02T13:07:11Z")
Booming business for Suez. Until the canal was dug. Nukes? Doubtful. Side effects, ya know.