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Channel Islands: Jersey and Guernsey
Status: Crown dependencies
Lieutenant Governor of Jersey: Andrew
Ridgway (2006)
Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey:
Fabian Malbon (2005)
Total area: 45 sq mi (117 sq km) (Jersey), 75
sq mi (194 sq km) (Guernsey)
Populations (2007 est.): Jersey, 91,321
(growth rate: 0.2%); birth rate: 9.0/1000; infant mortality rate:
5.1/1000; life expectancy: 79.5; density per sq mi: 2,022; Guernsey,
65,573 (growth rate: 0.2%); birth rate: 8.7/1000; infant mortality
rate: 4.6/1000; life expectancy: 80.5; density per sq mi: 875
Capital of Jersey (2003 est.): St. Helier,
28,600
Capital of Guernsey (2003 est.): St. Peter
Port, 16,600
Monetary units: Guernsey pound; Jersey
pound
Major sources and definitions
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Flag of Jersey
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Flag of Guernsey
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This group of islands, lying in the English Channel off the northwest
coast of France, belonged to the Duchy of Normandy until it passed to the
English Crown with the Norman conquest of 1066. It was the only British
possession occupied by Germany during World War II. English and French are
commonly spoken (though use of the latter is declining), and a
Norman-French patois survives.
For administrative purposes, the islands are divided into the Bailiwick
of Jersey (45 sq mi; 116 sq km), including the Ecrehous rocks and Les
Minquiers, and the Bailiwick of Guernsey (30 sq mi; 78 sq km), including
Alderney (3 sq mi; 7.8 sq km), Sark (2 sq mi; 5.2 sq km), Herm, Jethou,
Brechou, and other smaller islands. The Channel Islands enjoy tax
sovereignty, and their exports are protected by British tariff barriers.
Financial services, tourism, market gardening, and dairy farming are
important industries.
See also Encyclopedia: Channel Islands.
Information Please® Database, © 2007 Pearson
Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
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