About the Isle of Man
Measuring 33 miles long by 13 miles wide, the Isle of Man is located in the
Irish Sea between mainland Britain and Ireland and has a population of
approximately 80,000 spread over some 227 square miles.
The nearest UK mainland point to the Island is Burrow Head, Galloway, 16
miles north of the Point of Ayre, and the nearest point to the English
mainland is St Bee's Head, Cumbria, which is 34 miles north east from Ramsey.
Snaefell is the highest of the Island's 10 peaks, at 2,036 feet.
Constitutionally, the Island is an internally self-governing dependent
territory of the Crown which is not part of the United Kingdom, but is a part
of the British Isles. The Island's 1,000 year old Parliament, Tynwald, is
the oldest Parliament in the world in continuous existence, and makes its
own laws and oversees the internal administration of the Island.
The Island's heritage, diverse scenery and temperate climate help contribute
to a high quality of life, enhanced by numerous annual sporting events - for
example the TT Races.
The Isle of Man is internationally recognised as a well-regulated offshore
environment. The Island's financial sector is regulated by the
Isle of Man Financial Supervision
Commission, and deposits made with Alliance & Leicester International
Limited in the Isle of Man are also covered by the
Depositors' Compensation Scheme.