Jersey

Jersey ( JUR-zee; Jèrriais: Jèrri [ʒɛri]), officially the Bailiwick of Jersey, is an autonomous and self-governing British Crown Dependency in Northwestern Europe 14 miles (23 km) off the Cotentin Peninsula of north-west France. At 45 square miles (120 km2), the main island, Jersey, is the largest of the Channel Islands. Although not a sovereign state, Jersey has its own legal, fiscal and governmental systems; on that basis, it is regarded as a small nation or island country. Jersey's territory also includes some surrounding uninhabited islands and rocks. As of 2021, the island had a population of 103,267. Historically part of the Duchy of Normandy, Jersey remained loyal to the English Crown when the English kings lost mainland Normandy, but it never became part of the Kingdom of England. From then until the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Jersey was at the frontline of Anglo-French Wars and was invaded a number of times, leading to the construction of fortifications such as Mont Orgueil Castle and to a thriving smuggling industry. The island was invaded and occupied by Nazi German forces during the Second World War until 9 May 1945, now celebrated as the island's national day. Jersey is a parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy, with its own financial, legal and judicial systems, and the power of self-determination. The Bailiff is the civil head of the island, the Chief Minister leads the island's government, and the Lieutenant Governor represents the British monarch, who is the head of state. The island is not part of the United Kingdom and has a separate international identity, but the UK government manages its defence, international representation and certain policy areas, such as nationality law. The island has a large financial services industry, as well as agriculture and tourism. Its currency is the Pound sterling with a local issue of banknotes and coins. British cultural influence on the island is evident in its use of English as the main language and its participation in British sporting leagues, but the island also has a strong Norman-French culture, reflected by its historic dialect of the Norman language, Jèrriais.

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