Isle of Man
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| National motto: Quocunque Jeceris Stabit (Latin: Whithersoever you throw it, it will stand) | |||
| Official languages | English, Manx | ||
| Capital | Douglas | ||
| Lord of Mann | Elizabeth II | ||
| Lieutenant Governor | Air Marshal Ian Macfadyen | ||
| Chief Minister | Richard Corkill | ||
| Currency | Isle of Man pound (on par with pound sterling) | ||
| Time zone | UTC (DST +1) | ||
| National anthem | Isle of Man National Anthem | ||
| Internet TLD | .IM | ||
| Calling Code | 44 (UK area code 1624) | ||
The Isle of Man, a British crown dependency, lies in the Irish Sea almost equidistant from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. With an area of 572 km² (221 square miles) and a population of around 64,000 it has the "Oldest Continuously Democratic Parliament in the World" - the Tynwald - founded in 979.
It is a common misconception that Man forms part of the United Kingdom; under British law it does not, though the United Kingdom takes care of its external affairs. The Isle of Man does not have membership of the European Union either.
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2 Military 3 See also 4 External links |
Background
The Isle of Man formed a Viking outpost/kingdom from circa 700 A.D. to 900 A.D., and part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century when it was ceded to Scotland. The island came under the British crown in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the once almost extinct Manx language.
Military
Defence is the responsibility of the UK.See also
External links
From the CIA World Factbook 2000.
