The island of Jersey [1] is the largest and southernmost of the Channel Islands. It lies in the English Channel, off the coast of Western Europe, northwest of France. The Bailiwick of Jersey is a self-governing British crown dependency and is not administered by the United Kingdom. The Channel Islands are the last remnants of the Dukedom of Normandy and are considered a separate jurisdiction to the United Kingdom. This beautiful island is famous for the Jersey Cow and Lilly Langtry.
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UnderstandLight taxes and death duties make the island a popular offshore finance centre. Tourism, banking and finance, and agriculture, particular dairying, are mainstays of the economy. Produce includes potatoes (Jersey Royals), cauliflower, tomatoes, flowers, beef and dairy products as well as light industrial and electrical goods, and textiles. HistoryThe island of Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II. GeographyTemperate, with mild winters and cool summers. Gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast. Get inBy planeJersey Airport in the parish of St. Peter. By boatGet aroundBy carThe maximum speed limit on the Island is 40mph, with many narrow 'Green Lanes' having a speed limit of 15mph. With a maximum straight-line journey length of some 11 miles, there would seem to be no point in owning and driving high-performance vehicles on the Island. This does not however stop a surprising number of people on the Island from doing so. By busTalkLanguages: English (official, and majority everyday language), French (official for some purposes), Jèrriais (a variety of Norman language) spoken in country districts (Portuguese is widely spoken) BuyThe economy is based largely on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. Potatoes (Jersey Royals) , cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. In 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output. Tourism, another mainstay of the economy, accounts for 24% of GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. EatDrinkSleepLearnWorkStay safeJersey law derives from Norman customary law, now supplemented by English law and local statute. United Kingdom law does not automatically apply in Jersey, unless adopted by the parliament, the States of Jersey. Stay healthyRespectContact
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