Gibraltar’s Spider Cave. What secrets does this small, limestone cave hold? We stand now near the highest point of the Mediterranean Steps. The path winds upwards, leading to the summit of the Rock of Gibraltar. Spider Cave is tucked away here, within the Upper Rock Nature Reserve.
Spider Cave formed over time. Water trickled down a fissure below Lord Airey’s Battery, slowly dissolving the limestone. This created the cave we see today. During World War II, the military expanded the cave to use it for accommodation. Sadly, this process destroyed most of the cave’s beautiful speleothems, the delicate formations like stalactites and stalagmites.
As its name suggests, Spider Cave is home to the Gibraltar funnel-web spider, *Macrothele calpeiana*. These fascinating creatures make their home within the cave’s depths. In the past, a colony of Schreibers’ bats also roosted here. Around 100 bats called the cave home. However, more recent surveys haven’t found any signs of the bats. This leaves the spiders to reign supreme in their rocky domain. While small, and perhaps less grand than some of Gibraltar’s other caves, Spider Cave offers a glimpse into the natural forces that shaped the Rock. It also serves as a quiet reminder of the human impact on the environment, both in times of war and peace. Spider Cave, a hidden gem within a natural fortress.