Isle of Man

Isle of Man

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also spelled Manx , Manx-Gaelic; Ellan Vannin or Mannin, Latin; Mona or Monapia, one of the British Isles, located in the Irish Sea under the westcoast of Scotland.

The island is 52 kilometers long and, at its widest point, 22 kilometers wide. It has an area of around 572 km²

The Isle of Man is not part of the United Kingdom but rather is a crown possession (since 1828). The head of state is King Charles, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is represented by a Lieutenant Governor. Foreign relations and defence are the responsibility of the British Government.

The Isle of Man’s lighthouses are mainly located on the east coast for historical, geographical and nautical reasons:

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Protected shipping lanes:

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The east coast of the Isle of Man is closer to the British mainland and forms an important shipping lane for ships sailing between the mainland and Ireland. Lighthouses are essential to mark these routes and warn ships of dangers.

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Population and ports:

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The Isle of Man’s main towns and ports, such as Douglas and Ramsey, are located on the east coast. Lighthouses in these areas help to protect access to these busy ports.

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Shelter:

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The east coast offers more shelter from the often rough seas of the Irish Sea. This makes it more logical to build lighthouses here where ships are more likely to sail closer to shore.

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Historical development:

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Lighthouses were often built in locations where there was a history of shipping activity and dangerous coastlines. The east coast of the Isle of Man has had historically more shipping traffic, which led to the construction of lighthouses at that locations.

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Douglas

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is the capital and also the largest town of the Isle of Man. Douglas grew rapidly in the 18th century as a result of the smuggling trade and by 1850 it was a popular residence place.

The town’s primary occupations are tourism, light precision engineering, brewing, and mineral water. At the mouth of the river 'Glass' is the harbour.

The city of Douglas can be viewed from a three kilometers seafront promenade around Douglas Bay (see the banner above).

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