Island in the Irish Sea, a dependency of the
British crown, but not part of the UK area
570 sq km/220 sq mi capital Douglas towns
Ramsey, Peel, Castletown features Snaefell
620 m/2,035 ft; annual TT (Tourist Trophy)
motorcycle races, gambling casinos, Britain's
first free port, tax haven; tailless Manx
cat; tourism, banking, and insurance are
important exports light engineering products
currency the island produces its own coins
and notes in UK currency denominations
population (1986) 64,000 language English
(Manx, nearer to Scottish than Irish Gaelic,
has been almost extinct since the 1970s)
government crown-appointed
lieutenant-governor, a legislative council,
and the representative House of Keys, which
together make up the Court of Tynwald,
passing laws subject to the royal assent.
Laws passed at Westminster only affect the
island if specifically so provided history
Norwegian until 1266, when the island was
ceded to Scotland; it came under UK
administration 1765.