Isle of Man Sheadings Pop-2006: 2006-04-24 census (source [1]) Pop-1971: 1971-04-25 census (provisional, source [4]) Reg: N = North Side, S = South Side Further subdivisions: See the Parishes of the Isle of Man page. For hundreds of years, the Isle of Man has been divided into six sheadings, which in turn were subdivided into seventeen parishes. Onchan seems to have changed its status from parish to village recently. At present, the local government units are sixteen parishes, four towns, and four villages. The two parishes with the greatest population are designated as districts. A government report on electoral redistricting [2], regarding "the desirability of maintaining current community and other boundaries" in drawing election districts, says, "The Isle of Man has a number of such divisions--those of the traditional Sheadings, Parishes (ecclesiastical not always being the same as local government), towns, villages and rural areas. ...

Sheading boundaries are the most difficult to respect--and we have noted that these ceased to be regarded as definitive in Tynwald [Parliament]'s limited adoption of the Butler Report's recommendations." Territorial extent: Isle of Man consists of the Isle of Man and the much smaller Calf of Man, both in the Irish Sea. for Isle of Man lists locations in the country, some of them with their latitudes and longitudes, some with their ISO 3166-2 codes for their subdivisions. This information can be put together to approximate the territorial extent of subdivisions. Change history: 1796: Onchan parish moved from Garff sheading to Middle sheading. 2006-03-29: Although there had been no change in the political geography of the Isle of Man, it was given a new ISO country code. Before that time it had been lumped in with the United Kingdom. Its old HASC code was GB.IM; its ISO code, IOM.

Population history: Isle of Man ISLE OF MAN Isle of Man Identity Card Country name: Man, Isle of Area: 572 sq km Highest point: Snaefell 621 m Population: 75,049 Religions: Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends Government type: parliamentary democracy (British crown dependency) Capital: Douglas Currency (code): British pound (GBP) Vehicle Country Id-Code: GBM ï¿½ Isle of Man offers every visitor the kind of vacation he/she has opted for; from mind-boggling scenic beauties and extensive, spacious beaches to international motor sports and Manx delicacies. On their trip to this beautiful country, one need to decide exactly how much is enough to satiate the traveller inside. Blessed with a culture that borrows from the ancient Celtic and Norse traditions, the Isle of Man is a perfect choice to spend a vacation marked by an agreeable and relaxed pace of life. Geography The Isle of Man is an archipelago near the north-western coast of mainland Europe and on the Irish Sea.

Also a part of the British Isles, it lies between England, Scotland and Ireland, the distances being approximately the same. Sharing almost every attraction the British Isles is famous for, the central mountain (Snaefell) and the seventeen national Glens, the fertile farmlands and a varied coastline are the most prominent features of the Isle of Man. The hills on the northern and the southern parts have a common central valley while the extreme north is exceptionally flat and is composed of oceanic, sedimentary deposits. Legend says the Snaefell summit is a point from which the seven kingdoms can be watched, namely Mann, Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, Heaven and Neptune. History Once a Viking outpost (700AD – 900 AD), the Isle of Man derives its name from the Norse Kingdom of Mann and Godred Crovan - the creator of the Isles. Scotland occupied the Viking settlement in 1266 before passing it on to the British in 1765. Another historical feature of the Isle of Man is its Parliament - The Tynwald was founded in 979 AD and still remains a functional one.

Economy Offshore banking, manufacturing and tourism are considered the trinity of Isle of Man’s economy, with the government offering incentives to companies dealing in high-end technological products and services/solutions. Several financial institutions who share the good fortune (read incentives) have given rise to further employment opportunities making agriculture and fishing decline from their respective altars; now it’s banking and similar services that are contributing to the great bulk of Gross Domestic Products. On the trade front it’s the relation with the United Kingdom that rules the roost, though Isle of Man has a fair access to the European Union markets. Politics Primarily under an autonomous government, the head of state for the Isle of Man is currently Her Majesty the Queen; the Lord of Mann in the Manx tongue. The Island's Lieutenant Governor being her only representative in the Isles, it is The United Kingdom that defends and represents the Island internationally. The Tynwald is a bicameral legislature with the House of Keys and the Legislative Council primarily dealing with the domestic matters. The Chief Minister Donald Gelling currently heads the Council of Ministers. The Island's relationship is currently under a turmoil involving the finance sector, housing prices and shortages apart from the Manx language.

The members of the House of Keys are mostly non-partisans and have two representatives from the Manx Labour Party and three from the Alliance for Progressive Government within. The next election for the Isle of Man is to be held in 2006. This year, i.e. 2005, the Island's government structure has been put under reformatory measure with a vision to transform the Legislative Council into a directly-elected chamber. The initiative was primarily taken up by the United Kingdom’s House of Lords, triggered by the abolishment of indirectly elected Conseillers in Guernsey. The Tynwald has already accepted a proposal that shall change the title of the Lieutenant Governor to Crown Commissioner (Barrantaghy Chrooin in Manx); the proposal is currently awaiting the Queen’s approval. The Isle of Man is nor a member neither an associate of the European Union, the sole reason being its position outside the European Economic Area (EEA), though Manx goods are traded without the non-EU tariffs due to the Protocol Three of the treaty of accession of the United Kingdom. Isle of Man doesn’t provide anyone with citizenship. Manx people are British citizens but cannot freely live or work in the EU states.

Manx politicians prefer standing independently in elections rather than representing the political parties. The six administrative districts or the sheadings (a Norse word for 'ship division'; the origin being the role of each district in producing a certain number of warships) form the basis of the Manx constituencies and has a Coroner in each of them. The six sheadings are Ayre, Glenfaba, Garff, Michael, Rushen and Middle.

Isle of Man Isle of Man "Whithersoever you throw it, it will stand" Anthem: Isle of Man National Anthem Capital Douglas 54°09′N 4°29′W Largest city Douglas Official languages English , Manx Government Crown Dependency ( UK ) - Lord of Mann Elizabeth II - Lieutenant Governor Paul Haddacks - Chief Minister Donald Gelling - First Deemster Michael Kerruish - President of Tynwald Noel Cringle Independence Crown dependency - Passed to British crown 1765 Area - Total 572 km² ( 191st) 221 sq mi - Water (%) 0 Population - July 2005 estimate 76,538 ( 201st) - Density 131.2/km² ( 75th) 339.6/sq mi GDP ( PPP) 2003 estimate - Total $2.113 billion ( 182nd) - Per capita $28,500 ( 19th) HDI (n/a) n/a (unranked) ( n/a) Currency Pound sterling 1 ( GBP) Time zone GMT (

 UTC+0) - Summer ( DST) ( UTC+1) Internet TLD .im Calling code +44 (UK area code 01624) 1 The Isle of Man Treasury issues its own sterling notes and coins (see Manx pound).

Not to be confused with the phantom Isle of Mam. The Isle of Man ( Manx: 'Ellan Vannin') or Mann (Manx: 'Mannin'), is an island located in the Irish Sea at the geographical centre of the British Isles . Although it is not part of the United Kingdom , it is a Crown dependency. Geography The Isle of Man is part of the British Isles , an archipelago off the north-western coast of mainland Europe . The island lies in the Irish Sea , approximately equidistant between England , Scotland and Ireland . Approximately 48 kilometres (32 miles) long and between 13 and 24 kilometres (8 and 15 miles) wide, the island has an area of around 572 km² (221 square miles). Hills in the north and south are bisected by a central valley. The extreme north is exceptionally flat, consisting mainly of deposits built up by deposition from glacial advances from Western Scotland during colder times. There are more recently deposited shingle beaches at the Point of Ayre.

It has only one mountain higher than 2,000 feet, Snaefell, with a height of 621 metres (2,036 ft). According to an old saying, from the summit one can see six kingdoms: those of Mann, Scotland , England , Ireland , Wales , and Heaven , , . Some versions add a seventh kingdom, that of Neptune or the Sea , . People According to the 2001 census, the Isle of Man is home to 76,315 people, of whom around 25,347 reside in the Island's capital, Douglas (Doolish). This gives the island a population density of 133 per square kilometre, or 345 people per square mile. Culture The culture of the Isle of Man is strongly influenced by its Celtic and Norse origins. Manx is closely related to the Scottish Gaelic and Irish languages.

By the middle of the 20th century only a few elderly native speakers remained (the last of them, Ned Maddrell, died on December 27, 1974), but by then a scholarly revival had begun to spread to the populace and many had learned Manx as a second language. The first native speakers of Manx (bilingual with English) in many years have now appeared: children brought up by Manx-speaking parents. Primary immersion education in Manx is provided by the Manx government: since 2003, the former St. John's School building has been used by the Bunscoill Gaelgagh (Manx language-medium school). Degrees in Manx are available from the Isle of Man College, the Centre for Manx Studies and the University of Edinburgh. Manx-language playgroups also exist, and Manx language classes are available in island schools. In the 1991 census, 1,689 out of a population of about 71,000 claimed to have knowledge of Manx, although the degree of knowledge in these cases presumably varied. It is currently enjoying a revival of the Gaelic Manx language (Gaelg).

A well known Manx expression is "Traa Dy Liooar", meaning "time enough" and represents a stereotypical view of the Manx attitude to life. Food and drink The national dish of the island is "Spuds and Herrin'", boiled potatoes and herring. This plain dish is chosen because of its role supporting the subsistence farmers of the island, who crofted the land and fished the sea for centuries. Seafood makes up a large proportion of the Manx diet. Although commercial fishing has declined in recent years, local delicacies include manx kippers (smoked herring) which are produced by the smokeries on the west coast of the island, albeit mainly from North Sea herring these days. The smokeries also produce other specialities including smoked salmon and bacon. Crab, lobster and scallops are commercially fished, and the Queen Scallop ('Queenies') is regarded as a particular delicacy, with a light, sweet flavour. Cod , ling and mackerel are often angled for the table, and freshwater trout and salmon can be taken from the local rivers and lakes, supported by the Government fish hatchery at Cornaa. Manx meat has a good reputation.

Cattle , sheep, pigs and poultry are all commercially farmed, Manx lamb from the hill-farms being a popular dish. The Loughtan, the indigenous breed of manx sheep, has a rich, dark meat that has found favour with chefs, featuring in dishes on the BBC's Masterchef series. Milk and cheese are produced by IOM Creameries. Manx cheese has been a particular success, featuring smoked and herb-flavoured varieties, and is stocked by many of the UK's supermarket chains. Manx cheese took bronze medals in the 2005 British Cheese Awards, and sold 578 tonnes over the year. Beer is brewed on a commercial scale by Okells Brewery (established in 1850) and Bushy's Brewery. Okells produces a number of beers including classic bitters, ales and milds, with a range of specialities including "Mac Lir" wheat beer and "Aile" smoked porter. Martin Brunnschweiler's "Bushy's Brewery" is a relatively recent startup that has found favour with the younger crowd and with the TT fans who congregate in his beer tent over the TT festival.

Bushy's produces ales, bitters and stouts, including "Old Bushy Tail" and "Piston Brew", alongside one-off specials and seasonal brews. "Manx Spirit", a spirit distilled from Scotch whisky, is produced by Kella Distillers. Government Structure The Isle of Man is a self-governing crown dependency. The Head of State is the Lord of Mann, who since 1765 has been the British Sovereign, currently Elizabeth II . She is represented by the Island's Lieutenant Governor. The United Kingdom is responsible for the Island's defence and for representing the Island in international forums, while the Island's own parliament has competence over almost all domestic matters. The Island's parliament is Tynwald (Tinvaal), which dates from at least AD 979. Tynwald is a bicameral legislature, comprising the House of Keys (directly elected by universal suffrage) and the Legislative Council (consisting of indirectly elected and ex officio members). These two bodies meet together in joint session as Tynwald. There is a Council of Ministers, which is headed by the Chief Minister, currently Donald Gelling MLC.

A satellite picture of the Isle of Man External relations Under British law, Mann is not part of the United Kingdom . However, the UK takes care of its external and defence affairs, and retains paramount power to legislate for the Island. The Isle of Man had a dispute with the European Court of Human Rights in the 1970s because it was reluctant to change its laws concerning birching (corporal punishment). The Isle of Man holds neither membership nor associate membership of the European Union , and lies outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Nonetheless, Protocol Three of the treaty of accession of the United Kingdom permits trade for Manx goods without non-EU tariffs. In conjunction with the Customs and Excise agreement with the UK, this facilitates free trade with the UK. While Manx goods can be freely moved within the EEA, people, capital and services cannot. There is no Manx citizenship. Citizenship is covered by UK law, and Manx people are classed as British citizens. However, those defined as Manx under Protocol Three have a special endorsement placed in their passports preventing them from freely living or working in EU states.

Those Manx persons with a parent or grandparent born in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), or who have lived in the UK for five years, are not subject to this provision. The restriction on free movement of persons is anomalous in that the treaty establishing the EU (formerly EEC) clearly states that all citizens of member states will also be citizens of the EU. However a special protocol was inserted in the Treaty of Accession of the United Kingdom excluding the Channel Islands and Isle of Man from the provisions governing free movement of people. This was done at the request of the governments of Jersey , Guernsey and the Isle of Man at the time. Travel to the Isle of Man is regulated by the local government laws, although the Isle of Man is part of the Common Travel Area. Visitors from countries who require a UK visa may also require a special Manx visa, obtainable from a British diplomatic mission. All non-Manx, including UK citizens, are required to obtain a work permit to take up employment on the Island until they have lived there for five years or more. Politics Most Manx politicians stand for election as independents rather than as representatives of political parties.

Though political parties do exist, their influence is not nearly as strong as is the case in the United Kingdom. Consequently, much Manx legislation develops through consensus among the members of Tynwald, which contrasts with the much more adversarial nature of the UK parliament. One political party, Mec Vannin, advocates the establishment of a sovereign republic. A Manx Labour Party also exists, unaffiliated to the UK Labour Party. The island formerly had a Manx National Party and a Manx Communist party. There are Manx members in the Celtic League, a political pressure group that advocates greater co-operation between and political autonomy for the Celtic nations. The main political issues include the Island's relationship with the finance sector, housing prices and shortages, and the Manx language. The vast majority of the members of the House of Keys are non-partisan (19), with two representatives from the Manx Labour Party and three from the Alliance for Progressive Government. The next scheduled election is in 2006. Local government Isle of Man sheadings map The Isle of Man is divided into six administrative districts, called sheadings. The six sheadings are Ayre, Glenfaba, Garff, Michael, Rushen and Middle.

The sheadings form the basis of some constituencies and each has a Coroner. This office must not be confused with the Coroner for Inquests, a role usually fulfilled by the High Bailiff. A person may fulfil the role of coroner for more than one sheading at the same time. The term 'sheading' is thought to be a Norse word for 'ship division'; each district was believed to be responsible for producing a certain number of warships. It could also be a Celtic word meaning 'sixth part'. Economy The Isle of Man is a low tax economy with income tax rates of 10% and 18% and 0% rate of corporate tax. 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 expanded employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing , once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of gross domestic product (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.

The Isle of Man has also recently entered the online gambling industry. In 2005 PokerStars, one of the world's largest online poker sites, relocated its headquarters to the Isle of Man from Costa Rica . The Manx government also promotes island locations for making films by contributing to the production costs. Among the most successful productions funded in part by the Isle of Man film industry were Waking Ned, where the Manx countryside stood in for rural Ireland , and films like Stormbreaker, Shergar, Tom Brown's Schooldays, I Capture the Castle, The Libertine (with Johnny Depp), Island at War (TV series), 5 Children and IT, Colour me Kubrick, Sparkle, etc: see Since 1999, the Isle of Man has received electricity through the world's longest submarine AC cable, the 90 kV Isle of Man to England Interconnector, as well as from a natural gas power station in Douglas, an oil power station in Peel and a small hydro-electric power station in Sulby Glen. History Ancient times to present The Isle of Man became a Viking outpost/kingdom from circa AD 700 to AD 900.

The Norse Kingdom of Mann and the Isles was created by Godred Crovan in 1079. Norway's King Magnus VI ceded the isles to Scotland in 1266, as dictated in the Treaty of Perth. The Isle of Man came under English control in the 14th century and to the British Crown in 1765. The Isle of Man was used as a base for Alien Civilian Internment camps in both the First World War (1914-18) and the Second World War (1939-45). Trivia: During Viking times the Isle of Man was the mainland of the Western Isles, Mull, Skye, etc.. It is still considered offensive to refer to the UK as the mainland. Being the Southern (most) Isle, it was named Sodor. Churches on the Island are under the stewardship of the Diocese of Sodor and Man. When Rev. W. V. Awdry wrote Thomas the Tank Engine he based the island of Sodor on his memories of visits to the Isle of Man. The film Thomas and the Magic Railroad was filmed in part on the Isle of Man.

Myth, Legend and Folklore Like most Celtic races the Manx have a rich tradition of folklore, and there are many stories of mythical creatures and characters. These include the Buggane - a malevolent spirit who according to legend blew the roof off St Trinian's church in a fit of pique; and the Moddey Dhoo - a ghostly black dog who wandered the walls and corridors of Peel Castle. The Isle of Man is also said to be home to fairies, known locally as "the quaer fellas" or "themselves". There is a famous Fairy Bridge and it is said to be bad luck if one doesn't wish the fairies good morning or afternoon when passing over it. The Tynwald The Island arguably has the oldest continuous parliament in the world, the Tynwald, nominally founded in 979 AD (both the Icelandic parliament and the Faroese parliament are older, but they were abolished between 1800 - 1845, and 1816 - 1852 respectively). The annual ceremonial meeting at Tynwald Hill, on Tynwald Day in July, continues the celebration of the Island's national day.

The main purpose of the occasion is to read the titles and to give a brief description of the new laws which have been enacted by the Tynwald Court during the previous year. The Triskelion Car registration plate, with the triskelion For centuries, the Island's symbol has been the ancient Triskelion and is similar to Sicily's Trinacria: 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 anticlockwise. Some have the uppermost thigh at 12:00, others at 11:30 or 10:00, etc. Some have the knee bent at 90°, some at 60°, some at closer to 120°. Also the degree of ornamentation of the leg wear and spur vary 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 perseverance and hard work. Variations on the Triskelion are still in use on the coats of arms belonging to the different branches of the ancient Norwegian noble family that ruled Mann up until the 13th century. This particular version belongs to the Skancke branch of the Skanke family. The name stems from skank, the Norwegian version of the word shank. The Norse royal family of Man stayed on the island for some years after the death of Magnus III and the beginning of Scottish rule. The family's emigration only came after the a final attempt on the Manx' part at restoring the old Sudreyar dynasty in the 1275 uprising against the Scots. This revolt failed disastrously, ending in the deaths of hundreds of rebels, including the last Norse King of Man, Godred IV Magnuson when the Manx suffered defeat in the decisive Battle of Ronaldsway, near Castletown. When the Norse-Manx royals arrived in Norway they took service as nobles of the Norwegian king, quickly becoming knights, landlords, and clergy under the Norwegian Crown.

Sport The Isle of Man is represented as a nation in the Commonwealth Games and the Island Games and will be hosting the IV Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011. The Island started the Island Games in 1985. Isle of Man teams and individuals participate in many sports both on and off the island. Among the many sports played on the island are cricket , football , gymnastics, hockey and rugby union. Motorcycle racing The main international motorcycle event associated with the island is the Isle of Man TT, which began in 1907 and takes place in late May & early June. It is now an international road racing event for motor bikes and used to be part of the World Championship. The Manx Grand Prix is a motorcycle event for amateurs and private entrants that uses the same 37.73 mile Snaefell mountain course in late August and early September. Cammag One sport that originated on the Isle of Man is cammag. This is similar to the Scottish game of shinty, and Irish hurling. It used to be the most widespread sport on the Isle of Man, but it ceased to be played after the introduction of football , until very recently when it has been somewhat revived.

It involves a stick (cammag) and a ball (crick) with anything between four and hundreds of players. Sometimes whole towns and villages took part, or even played each other. The cammag can be any stick with a bent end, and the crick can be made from cork or wood. Old accounts tell us that it was occasionally covered in a rag to make it less painful to hit. Cammag season started on Hunt the Wren Day ( 26 December) and was only played by men (of all ages) during the winter. Realistically, it ceased to be played around 1900. However, in modern times, an annual match of cammag is played in St. John's (Balley Keill Eoin). As there are no rules to cammag, a trip to the local inn is advised to ease any feelings of cowardice beforehand! Famous residents A number of famous people born, previously or currently living on the island: The Bee Gees were born on the island. Their parents ran the Post Office in Union Mills. Maurice Gibb returned for a spell during the 1970's.

Robin Gibb is in the process of returning to the Island with his family (November 2006). BBC Radio presenter Andy Kershaw lives in Peel. Robert Henry Cain (2 January 1909 - 2 May 1974) was an oil company executive who was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. He was the father of Frances Catherine Cain (Francie Clarkson), wife of Jeremy Clarkson. Jeremy Clarkson has a home at Langness, near Castletown. His wife Frances was born on the island, a place described by Clarkson in 2004 as "a thorn in the side of Tony Blair 's nanny state," because of its lack of an upper speed limit. This home was revealed to be a lighthouse during the July 5, 2006 episode of The F-Word. Alan Warner, a multi-millionaire and prolific writer, novelist, lyricist and screenwriter born December 8, 1960 in Bolton, Lancashire. He moved to the Isle of Man from the UK in 1989. He lives a reclusive and modest lifestyle at a lighthouse in the north of the island.

Neil Hodgson, the 2003 World Superbike champion. George MacDonald Fraser, the journalist, author, and screenwriter; the title of his 2002 memoir Light's on at Signpost is a reference to the Isle of Man TT race. Nigel Mansell, the British racing driver, lived on the Isle of Man together with his family, including his sons Leo and Greg, both racing drivers themselves, and was a Special Constable throughout his Formula One career. After retirement, he later moved to Jersey and then to the USA. Justin Jackson is a professional footballer who played for numerous English league and non-league clubs including Bolton Wanderers, Halifax Town, Rushden and Diamonds, Doncaster Rovers and Morecambe. Rick Wakeman has lived on the island for a number of years. Sir Norman Wisdom, comedian and actor, is a long-term resident. Charlotte Lamb, a prolific and bestselling romantic novelist (1937 – 2000), best-known for writing over 150 Mills & Boon novels, lived on the Island from 1977 until her death in October 2000.

Florrie Forde (1876 – 1940), known as the queen of the music hall sing along chorus, performed at the Derby Castle ballroom stage from 1900 to 1937 (excluding the war years) and had a bungalow at Niarbyl Bay on the west coast of the island where she spent her Sundays relaxing. John Rhys-Davies has lived on the island for a number of years and is best known for his acting roles in Indiana Jones as Sallah, in Sliders as Professor Arturo and in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy as Gimli. Alex Lloyd (racing driver), winner of the McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year Award, is from the island. T.E. Brown Manx poet, scholar and theologian.

Retrieved from " " This reference article is mainly selected from the English Wikipedia with only minor checks and changes (see for details of authors and sources) and is available under the Isle of Man Flats to Let in Isle Of Man Isle of Man Flats to Let in Isle Of Man 6 flats in Douglas, Isle Of Man 1 Bedroom Isle of Man From Wikipedia , the free encyclopedia For the native Isle of Man Cat, see Manx Cat; for the phantom island, see Isle of Mam. The Isle of Man (Ellan Vannin in Manx) or Mann (Mannin in Manx), is an island located in the Irish Sea at the geographical centre of Great Britain and Ireland. Although it is not part of the United Kingdom, it is a Crown dependency. Geography Main article: Geography of the Isle of Man The Isle of Man is part of the British Isles, an archipelago off the north-western coast of mainland Europe. The island lies in the Irish Sea, approximately equidistant between England, Scotland and Ireland.

Approximately 48 kilometres (32 miles) long and between 13 and 24 kilometres (8 and 15 miles) in breadth, the island has an area of around 572 km² (221 square miles). Hills in the north and south are bisected by a central valley. The extreme north is exceptionally flat, consisting mainly of deposits built up by deposition from glacial advances from Western Scotland during colder times. There are more recently deposited shingle beaches at the Point of Ayre. It has only one mountain higher than 2,000 feet, Snaefell, with a height of 621 metres (2,036 ft). According to an old saying, from the summit one can see six kingdoms: those of Mann, Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, and Heaven. People Main article: Demographics of the Isle of Man According to the 2001 census, the Isle of Man is home to 76,315 people, of whom around 25,347 reside in the Island's capital, Douglas (Doolish).

This gives the island a population density of 133 per square kilometre, or 345 people per square mile. Culture The culture of the Isle of Man is strongly influenced by its Celtic and Norse origins. It is currently enjoying a revival of the Gaelic Manx language (Gaelg). Although the last original native speaker died in 1974, small children are once again being brought up speaking Manx. There are now 27 known native speakers and 650 other speakers. Manx is closely related to the Scottish Gaelic and Irish languages. A well known Manx expression is "Traa Dy Liooar", meaning "time enough" and represents a stereotypical view of the Manx attitude to life. Government Main article: Politics of the Isle of Man Structure The Isle of Man is a self-governing crown dependency. The head of state is the Lord of Mann, who since 1765 has been the British Sovereign, currently Elizabeth II. She is represented by the Island's Lieutenant Governor. The United Kingdom is responsible for the Island's defence and for representing the Island in international forums, while the Island's own parliament has competence over almost all domestic matters.

The Island's parliament is Tynwald (Tinvaal), which dates from at least AD 979. Tynwald is a bicameral legislature, comprising the House of Keys (directly elected by universal suffrage) and the Legislative Council (consisting of indirectly elected and ex officio members). These two bodies meet together in joint session as Tynwald. There is a Council of Ministers, which is headed by the Chief Minister, currently Donald Gelling MLC. In October 2005 Tynwald accepted a proposal to change the title of the Lieutenant Governor to Crown Commissioner or Barrantagh y Chrooin in Manx (the title would also be "Barrantagh ny Benrein," or "Queen's Commissioner"; when there is a King it will be "Barrantagh ny Ree," or "King's Commissioner"). The proposal now has to go to London for approval, but the United Kingdom Department for Constitutional Affairs indicated early in 2005 that this was likely to be given. However, recent developments have suggested that the issue may be decided on the basis of an Island-wide referendum. External relations A common misconception exists that Mann forms part of the United Kingdom.

Under British law it does not, although the United Kingdom takes care of its external and defence affairs. The Isle of Man had a dispute with the European Court of Human Rights in the 1970s because it was reluctant to change its laws concerning birching (corporal punishment for male offenders). The law on sodomy might have also led down this road had it not been changed in the early 1990s. The Isle of Man holds neither membership nor associate membership of the European Union, and lies outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Nonetheless, Protocol Three of the treaty of accession of the United Kingdom permits trade for Manx goods without non-EU tariffs. In conjunction with the Customs and Excise agreement with the UK, this facilitates free trade with the UK. While Manx goods can be freely moved within the EEA, people, capital and services cannot. There is no Manx citizenship. Manx people are classed as British citizens but those defined as Manx under Protocol Three have a special endorsement placed in their passports preventing them from freely living or working in EU states.

Those Manx persons with a parent or grandparent born in the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), or who have lived in the UK for 5 years, are not subject to this provision. The restriction on free movement of persons is anomalous in that the treaty establishing the EU (formerly EEC) clearly states that all citizens of member states will also be citizens of the EU. However a special protocol was inserted in the Treaty of Accession of the United Kingdom excluding the Channel Islands and Isle of Man from the provisions governing free movement of people. This was done at the request of the governments of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man at the time. Travel to the Isle of Man is regulated by the local government laws, although the Isle of Man is part of the Common Travel Area. Visitors from countries who require a UK visa may also require a special Manx visa, obtainable from a British diplomatic mission. All non-Manx, including UK citizens, are required to obtain a work permit to take up employment on the Island. Politics Most Manx politicians stand for election as independents rather than as representatives of political parties. Though political parties do exist, their influence is not nearly as strong as is the case in the United Kingdom.

Consequently, much Manx legislation develops through consensus among the members of Tynwald, which contrasts with the much more adversarial nature of the UK parliament. One political party, Mec Vannin, advocates the establishment of a sovereign republic. A Manx Labour Party also exists, unaffiliated to the UK Labour Party. The island formerly had a Manx National Party and a Manx Communist party. There are Manx members in the Celtic League, a political pressure group that advocates greater co-operation between and political autonomy for the Celtic nations. The main political issues include the Island's relationship with the finance sector, housing prices and shortages, and the Manx language. The vast majority of the members of the House of Keys are non-partisan (19), with two representatives from the Manx Labour Party and three from the Alliance for Progressive Government. The next scheduled election is in 2006. Local government Main article: Local government in the Isle of Man The Isle of Man is divided into six administrative districts, called sheadings. The six sheadings are Ayre, Glenfaba, Garff, Michael, Rushen and Middle. The sheadings form the basis of some constituencies and each has a Coroner.

This office must not be confused with the Coroner for Inquests, a role usually fulfilled by the High Bailiff. A person may fulfil the role of coroner for more than one sheading at the same time. The term 'sheading' is thought to be a Norse word for 'ship division'; each district was believed to be responsible for producing a certain number of warships. It could also be a Celtic word meaning 'sixth part'. Economy Main article: Economy of the Isle of Man The Isle of Man is a low tax economy with income tax rates of 10% and 18% and 0% rate of corporate tax. 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 expanded employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of gross domestic product (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.

The Manx government also promotes island locations for making films by contributing to the production costs. Among the most successful productions funded in part by the Isle of Man film industry was Waking Ned where the Manx countryside stood in for rural Ireland. Since 1999, the Isle of Man has received electricity through the world's longest submarine AC cable, the 90 kV Isle of Man to England Interconnector, as well as from a natural gas power station in Douglas, an oil power station in Peel and a small hydro-electric power station in Sulby Glen. History Main article: History of the Isle of Man Ancient times to present The Isle of Man became a Viking outpost/kingdom from circa AD 700 to AD 900. The Norse Kingdom of Mann and the Isles was created by Godred Crovan in 1079. Norway's King Magnus VI ceded the isles to Scotland in 1266, as dictated in the Treaty of Perth. The Isle of Man came under English control in the 14th century and to the British Crown in 1765.

The Isle of Man was used as a base for Alien Civilian Internment camps in both the First World War (1914-18) and the Second World War (1939-45). The Tynwald The Island arguably has the oldest continuous parliament in the world, the Tynwald, nominally founded in 979 AD (both the Icelandic parliament and the Faroese parliament are older, but they were abolished between 1800 - 1845, and 1816 - 1852 respectively). The annual ceremonial meeting at Tynwald Hill, on Tynwald Day in July, continues the celebration of the Island's national day. The main purpose of the occasion is to read the titles and to give a brief description of the new laws which have been enacted by the Tynwald Court during the previous year. The Triskelion For centuries, the Island's symbol has been the ancient Triskelion and is similar to Sicily's Trinacria: 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 anticlockwise. Some have the uppermost thigh at 12:00, others at 11:30 or 10:00, etc. Some have the knee bent at 90°, some at 60°, some at closer to 120°. Also the degree of ornamentation of the leg wear and spur vary 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 perseverance and hard work. Variations on the Triskelion are still in use on the coats of arms belonging to the different branches of the ancient Norwegian noble family that ruled Mann up until the 13th century. This particular version belongs to the Skancke branch of the Skanke family.

The name stems from skank, the Norwegian version of the word shank. The Norse royal family of Man stayed on the island for some years after the death of Magnus III and the beginning of Scottish rule. The family's emigration only came after the a final attempt on the Manx' part at restoring the old Sudreyar dynasty in the 1275 uprising against the Scots. This revolt failed disastrously, ending in the deaths of hundreds of rebels, including the last Norse King of Man, Godred Magnusson when the Manx suffered defeat in the decisive Battle of Ronaldsway, near Castletown. When the Norse-Manx royals arrived in Norway they took service as nobles of the Norwegian king, quickly becoming knights, landlords, and clergy under the Norwegian Crown. Sport Main article: Sport in the Isle of Man The Isle of Man is represented as a nation in the Commonwealth Games and the Island Games and will be hosting the IV Commonwealth Youth Games in 2011. The Island started the Island Games in 1985. Isle of Man teams and individuals participate in many sports both on and off the island. Among the many sports played on the island are cricket, football, gymnastics, hockey and Rugby Union.

TT The main international event associated with the island is the Isle of Man TT, which began in 1907. It is now an international road racing event for motor bikes and used to be part of the World Championship. Cammag One sport that originated on the Isle of Man is cammag. This is similar to the Scottish game of shinty, and Irish hurling. It used to be the most widespread sport on the Isle of Man, but it ceased to be played after the introduction of football, until very recently when it has been somewhat revived. It involves a stick (cammag) and a ball (crick) with anything between four and hundreds of players. Sometimes whole towns and villages took part, or even played each other. The cammag can be any stick with a bent end, and the crick can be made from cork or wood. Old accounts tell us that it was occasionally covered in a rag to make it less painful to hit. Cammag season started on Hunt the Wren Day (26th December) and was only played by men (of all ages) during the winter. Realistically, it ceased to be played around 1900.

However, in modern times, an annual match of cammag is played in St. John's (Balley Keill Eoin). As there are no rules to cammag, a trip to the local inn is advised to ease any feelings of cowardice beforehand! Famous residents Despite the wet and cool climate, the low income tax regime and zero tax on personal investments attract a small number of famous people to live on the island: The Bee Gees - were born on the Island Major Robert Henry Cain - the oil company executive was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. He is the father of Francie Clarkson, wife of Jeremy Clarkson Jeremy Clarkson - has a home at Langness, near Castletown. His wife Frances Catherine Cain was born on the island, a place described by Clarkson in 2004 as "a thorn in the side of Tony Blair's nanny state," because of its lack of an upper speed limit.

This home was revealed to be a lighthouse during the July 5 2006 episode of The F-Word Neil Hodgson - the 2003 World Superbike champion George MacDonald Fraser - the journalist, author, and screenwriter resides on the Isle of Man; the title of his memoir "The Light's on at Signpost" is a reference to the Isle of Man TT race Nigel Mansell - the British racing driver lived on the Isle of Man together with his family, and was a special Policeman, throughout his Formula1 career. After retirement, he later moved to Jersey and then to the USA Justin Jackson - Professional footballer who played for numerous English league and non-league clubs including Bolton Wanderers, Halifax Town, Rushden and Diamonds, Doncaster Rovers and Morecambe. Rick Wakeman has lived on the island for a number of years Sir Norman Wisdom - comedian and actor is a long-term resident Charlotte Lamb - a prolific and bestselling romantic novelist (1937 - 2000), best-known for writing over 150 Mills & Boon novels, who lived on the Island from 1977 until her death in October 2000.

References CIA World Factbook 2000 This article was copied on 11 July 2006. The current version with history is available on Wikipedia. Text on this page is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License (see Copyrights for details) HHRCOUK_Area_Key 8e28d307-b74a-41ac-ba81-32775226ec6e

Question: What name is given to any of the six administrative districts of the Isle of Man?
Answer: A SHEADING