History

Main article: History of the Isle of Man

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 Scotland aquired it. The island came under English control in the 14th century and to the British crown in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the once almost-extinct Manx language and the recent significant immigration of non-Manx people to serve the financial sector.

Triskelion

The Isle of Man has for centuries used the ancient symbol known as the Triskelion: three bent legs, each with a spur, joined at the thigh. The Triskelion does not appear to have an official definition - Government publications, currency, flags, the tourist authority and others all use different variants. Most, but not all, preserve rotational symmetry. Some run clockwise, others counter-clockwise. Some have the uppermost thigh at 12 o'clock, others at 11:30 or 10:00, etc. Some have the knee bent at 90 degrees, some at 60 degrees, some at closer to 120 degrees. Also the degree of ornamentation of the legwear and spur varies considerably.

The three legs relate directly to the Island's motto - Quocunque Jeceris Stabit, which translates to Whithersoever you throw it, it will stand. Interpretations of the motto often stress stability and robustness in the Manx character. Many schools on the Island have adapted the motto to promote perserverence and hard work.

Politics

Main article: Government of the Isle of Man

A common misconception exists that Man forms part of the United Kingdom; under British law it does not, although the United Kingdom takes care of its external and defence affairs. Man comprises a British Crown dependency; the political party Mec Vannin advocates the establishment of Man as a sovereign republic. A Manx Labour Party also exists, unaffiliated to the UK Labour Party, and the Island formerly had a Manx National Party and a Manx Communist party. The Isle of Man holds neither membership nor associate membership of the European Union, but forms part of the customs territory of the Union, allowing it to trade freely with EU members.

Main political issues include the island's relationship with the finance sector, housing prices and shortages, and the Manx language

Geography

Main article: Geography of the Isle of Man

The mountain Snaefell (621m) dominates the centre of the island: from its summit, according to an old saying, one can see seven kingdoms: the Kingdoms of Man, Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, Heaven and the Sea.

Economy

Main article: Economy of the Isle of Man

Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism form key sectors of the economy of the Isle of Man. The government's policy of offering incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of GDP. Banking and other services now contribute the great bulk of GDP. Trade takes place mostly with the United Kingdom. The Isle of Man has access to European Union markets.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of the Isle of Man

Culture

Main article: Culture of the Isle of Man

See: Music of the Isle of Man

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications on the Isle of Man
• Transportation on the Isle of Man
• List of Kings of the Isle of Man

See also

• Calf of Man & Chicken Rock - island and rocks housing a lighthouse.
• St Mary's Isle (Conister Rocks or Tower of Refuge) - Douglas bay islet.
• St Michael's Isle (Fort Island) - connected to Langness by causeway.
• St Patrick's Isle (Peel Castle) - One of the smallest islets in the Irish Sea but probably the most historic. Now connected to the mainland by causeway.
• Isle of Man TT
• Loaghtan sheep
• Manx cat
• Towns in the Isle of Man
• Tynwald Day

References

• CIA World Factbook 2000

External links

• Manx Discussion Forums The busiest Manx forum.
• Information on places in the Isle of Man
• IsleofMan Email group with Photographs, Files and Links to information about the Isle of Man

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To view or edit this article at Wikipedia go to http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Man

Isle of Man The Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin in Manx), 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 76,315 (2001 Census) it arguably has the "Oldest Continuous Parliament in the World" (a claim made by several other countries) - the Tynwald - supposedly founded in 979. Although the Manx people celebrated the millennium of Tynwald in 1979, the establishment of Tynwald may have actually pre-dated 979.

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align="center" colspan=2 style="border-bottom:3px solid gray;"

National motto: Quocunque Jeceris Stabit (Latin: Whithersoever you throw it, it will stand)

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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a8/BritishIslesMan.png

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Official languages

English language

English, Manx language

Manx

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Capital

Douglas, Isle of Man

Douglas

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List of Kings of the Isle of Man

Lord of Mann

Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom

Elizabeth II

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Lieutenant Governor

Air Marshal Ian Macfadyen

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Chief Minister

Vacant (formerly Richard Corkill)

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Currency

Isle of Man pound (currency)

pound (on par with Pound Sterling)

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Time zone

Coordinated Universal Time

UTC (Daylight Saving Time

DST +1)

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National anthem

Isle of Man National Anthem

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Top-level domain

Internet TLD

.im

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List_of_country_calling_codes

Calling Code

44 (UK area code 1624)

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