Channel Islands

The Channel Islands, located between the south coast of the United Kingdom and northern France.
Geography
Location	English Channel
Total islands	8 inhabited
Highest point	Les Platons
Country
British Crown Dependencies
Bailiwicks	Jersey and Guernsey
Demographics
Demonym	Channel Islanders
Additional information
Official website	www.gov.je and www.gov.gg

The Channel Islands (Norman: Îles d'la Manche, French: Îles Anglo-Normandes or Îles de la Manche) are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey. They are considered the remnants of the Duchy of Normandy, and are not part of the United Kingdom.^[1] They have a total population of about 158,000 and their respective capitals, St. Peter Port and St. Helier, have populations of 16,488 and 28,310. The total area of the islands is 194 km².

The Bailiwicks have been administered separately since the late 13th century, although those unacquainted with the islands often assume they form one political unit:^[who?] common institutions are the exception rather than the rule. The two Bailiwicks have no common laws, no common elections, and no common representative body (although their politicians consult regularly). There is no common newspaper or radio station, but there is a common television station, ITV Channel Television, and a common BBC television news opt-out BBC Channel Islands News.

Geography[link]

The Channel Islands and adjacent coast of France.

Viewed from Jersey's north coast, Jethou, Herm and Sark are hazy outlines on the horizon.

The inhabited islands of the Channel Islands are Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm (the main islands); Jethou, Brecqhou (Brechou) and Lihou, all except Jersey in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. There are also uninhabited islets: the Minquiers, Écréhous, Les Dirouilles and Les Pierres de Lecq (the Paternosters), part of the Bailiwick of Jersey; and Burhou and the Casquets lie off Alderney. In general the larger islands have the -ey suffix, and the smaller ones have the -hou suffix; these are believed to be from the Old Norse ey and holmr, respectively.

The Chausey Islands south of Jersey are not generally included in the geographical definition of the Channel Islands but are occasionally described as 'French Channel Islands' in English in view of their French jurisdiction. They were historically linked to the Duchy of Normandy, but they are part of the French territory along with continental Normandy, and not part of the British Isles or of the Channel Islands in a political sense. They are an incorporated part of the commune of Granville (Manche). While popular with visitors from France they are rarely visited by Channel Islanders, as there are no direct transport links from the other islands.

In official Jersey French, the islands are called 'Îles de la Manche', while in France, the term 'Îles anglo-normandes' (Anglo-Norman isles) is used to refer to the British 'Channel Islands' in contrast to other islands in the Channel. Chausey is referred to as an 'Île normande' (as opposed to anglo-normande). 'Îles Normandes' and 'Archipel Normand' have also, historically, been used in Channel Island French to refer to the islands as a whole.

The very large tidal variation provides an environmentally rich inter-tidal zone around the islands, and some sites have received Ramsar Convention designation (see Category:Ramsar sites in the Channel Islands).

The waters around the islands include the following:

• The Swinge (between Alderney and Burhou)
• The Little Swinge (between Burhou and Les Nannels)
• La Déroute (between Jersey and Sark, and Jersey and the Cotentin)
• Le Raz Blanchard, or Race of Alderney (between Alderney and the Cotentin)
• The Great Russel (between Sark, Jéthou and Herm)
• The Little Russel (between Guernsey, Herm and Jéthou)
• Souachehouais (between Le Rigdon and L'Étacq, Jersey)
• Le Gouliot (between Sark and Brecqhou)
• La Percée (between Herm and Jéthou)

The highest point in the islands is Les Platons in Jersey at 143 metres (469 ft) above sea level. The lowest point is the Atlantic Ocean (sea level).

History[link]