Further information
28.02.2008
A calendar with current dates of stamp fairs and stock exchanges was placed on-line.
Small history of the isle of man
Small characteristics of the island
Surface of the island:
approx. 570km˛
Surface of the Calf of Man:
approx. 4km˛
Inhabitant: approx. 65.000
Capital: Douglas (approx. 20.000 inhabitants)
International
KFZ characteristic: GBM
The Isle of Man, admits by tailless cats and the famous motorcycle running, is appropriate for instance in the center of the Irish sea to the coast to Ireland is round it of 61km, to Scotland 29km and to England 45km. The Snaefell is with approximately 600 meters the highest collection of the island. The only electrical mountain railway Britains drives to the largest still in enterprise water wheel present since 1895 from Laxey, past at the lady Isabella, on the highest mountain of the Isle of Man. The island measures in the length approx.. and width of approx. has 52 km. 22 km. The name Isle of Man descends from that celtic natives. A legend tells that the legendary God "Mannan Mac Lir" protected the sea and the inhabitants of the island. With danger it wrapped the island with fog and made it so invisible for the opponent. Mannan Mac Lir came to the legend from the lake and took themselves its domicile on the mountain "South Barrule". The island received the names "Mannin or man", in the course of the time the name on "Man" was modified.
The original language of the Isle of Man is the Manx language, it descends from the celtic natives. Since the customs care is again in coming, the Manx applies after the English as 2. National language.
Administration:
The national foundation of the island was put by the Wikinger. Many traditions began already at that time and outlasted up to the today's day. Godred Crovan (called in the vernacular king Orry) called up annually its Tynwald, in order to force upon to the inhabitants of the island its laws. Today the Tynwald is the oldest parliament of the world. On 5 July 1979 its thousand-anniversary was committed. 5 July was explained as the national holiday. As since hundreds of years on this day the laws will read out in the open air and communicated to the population. The name Tynwald originates from the Scandinavian "Thingvollr" and means literally translated "meeting field".
The English monarch is since 1765 also the head of the island and with "Lord of Man" is called. Right of coining money and legislation are however not affected of it and are still subordinated to the parliament of the Isle of Man. The island has own confirmed by a document tax and financial autonomy and gives the Manx Pound out as currency (that the English currency is adapted).
The Laxey Wheel, a wheel with 23m diameter, which was built 1854 for the drainage of a mine.
Objects of interest
Apart from the scenic beauty and variety the island once completely offers the following:
- When largest object of interest of the island applies the "Laxey Wheel", one 1854 of a local resident engineer built pumpenwerk with a wheel diameter of 23 meters, which served the mine-mad for the drainage. This technical large work of its time, is called in the population affectionately "Lady Isabella".
- The motorcycle running to the Tourist Trophy each June are held and lead by the most beautiful landscapes of the island. The distance process continues to itself pull from Ramsey in southern direction over the Snaefell over Onchan after Douglas. From there it is involved toward the east over Crosby after pc. John, here bends the distance after the north and leads across Kirk Michael and Sulby again after Ramsey.
- Several prehistoric places on one witness of the fact that the island was inhabited before thousand years already. The famous plants of this kind is Cashtal Yn Ard.
- The Isle of Man possesses several protected areas, so among other things the "Calf of Man". This island pre-aged in the south is a bird protected area and by a bird protection attendant is cared for. The Calf of Man has a size of 1 ˝ miles x 1 mile.
- A place with "history" in the truest sense of the word is the Tynwald Hill. Already more than 1000 years ago met here the parliament of one, the oldest still existing thing of the world. Today the meetings no more are not held in the free one, but public announcing of the new laws takes place each 5 July here, a pageant of full tradition and always connected with a people celebration.
- From the large number of old attachments and locks from the Normans period are above all Peel Castle and Castle Rushen to be emphasized.
- Who Man visited miss the opportunity to visit the Snaefell Summit, the highest mountain of the island. You drives past with the course up, at the Laxey Wheel and has above a breath-robbing overview of the island.
- The Tramways and railways on Man have its own fan club. They are an attraction for tourists and have cult status with lovers of railways. The horse route course in Douglas is probably one of the most photographed motives of the island and looks for their-same in the world.
This side developed under cooperation of Kurt Pantele (text, mark pictures) and Keith Handley (photo, mark pictures)