Channel Islands
Group of islands in the English Channel, off the northwest coast of
France; they are a possession of the British crown. They comprise
the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Great and Little Sark,
with the lesser Herm, Brechou, Jethou, and Lihou.
Area:
194 sq km/75 sq mi
Features:
Very mild climate, productive soil; financially the islands are a tax
haven
Industries:
Farming, fishing, and tourism; flowers, early potatoes, tomatoes, butterflies,
and dairy cattle are exported
Currency:
English pound, also local coinage
Population:
(1991) 145,600
Language:
Official language French ( Norman French) but English more widely used
Religion:
Chiefly Anglican
Famous People:
Lillie Langtry
Government:
The main islands have their own parliaments and laws. Unless specially
signified, the Channel Islands are not bound by British acts of
Parliament, though the British government is responsible for defence
and external relations
History:
Originally under the duchy of Normandy, they are the only part still
held by Britain. The islands came under the same rule as England
1066, and are dependent territories of the British crown. Germany
occupied the islands June 1940-May 1945, the only British soil
to be occupied by the Germans during World War II.
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