The Channel Islands are an archipelago in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two Crown dependencies: the Bailiwick of Jersey, the largest of the islands , and the Bailiwick of Guernsey, consisting of Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and some smaller islands. They are considered the remnants of the Duchy of Normandy and, although they are not part of the United Kingdom, the UK is responsible for the defence and international relations of the islands. The Crown dependencies are not members of the Commonwealth of Nations or of the European Union. They have a total population of about 164,541, and the bailiwicks’ capitals, Saint Helier and Saint Peter Port, have populations of 33,500 and 16,488, respectively. The total area of the islands is 198 km2.
The two bailiwicks have been administered separately since the late 13th century. Each has its own independent laws, elections, and representative bodies (although in modern times, politicians from the islands’ legislatures are in regular contact). Any institution common to both is the exception rather than the rule. The Bailiwick of Guernsey is divided into three jurisdictions – Guernsey, Alderney and Sark – each with its own legislature.
The term “Channel Islands” began to be used around 1830, possibly first by the Royal Navy as a collective name for the islands. Geography : The two major islands are Jersey and Guernsey. They make up 99% of the population and 92% of the area
List of islands : The permanently inhabited islands of the Channel Islands and their population and area are:
Jersey 100,080 (118 km2) , Guernsey 63,026 (65 km2) , Alderney 2,000 (8 km2) , Sark 600 (5 km2) , Herm 60 (2 km2) , Jethou 3 (0.2 km2) , Brecqhou (Brechou) (0.3 km2)
There are also several uninhabited islets. Four are part of the Bailiwick of Jersey:
The Minquiers , Ecrehous , Les Dirouilles , Les Pierres de Lecq (the Paternosters)
These lie off Alderney : Burhou , Casquets , Ortac , Renonquet ,
These lie off Guernsey: Caquorobert , Crevichon , Grande Amfroque , Les Houmets
Lihou (occupied for part of the year)
(See also List of islands of the Bailiwick of Guernsey
Access : / Coordinates: 49.433333, -2.316667 / Saint Peter Port : Like the UK, the Channel Islands are outside the Schengen Agreement but form a Common Travel Area with the UK, Republic of Ireland and Isle of Man.
By air : The Channel Islands have their own airline, Aurigny which offer flights to the islands’ airports from London and elsewhere.
Guernsey Airport (GCI IATA) – to/from the UK (London Gatwick, London Stansted, Bristol, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Exeter, Manchester Airport and Southampton), France (Dinard and St Brieuc), Jersey, Alderney, Germany (Dusseldorf and Stuttgart) and Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Jersey Airport (JER IATA)
By boat : St Peter Port, Guernsey – to/from the UK (Poole, Portsmouth and Weymouth), Saint-Malo in France and other Channel Islands.
Go next : Normandy : A region of northern France, bordering the English Channel.
