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Some 20Km off the northwest coast of France, the Channel Islands form part of the United Kingdom. There are four main islands: Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark which total some 194 square Km.

The islands have two administrative areas, Guernsey and Jersey, each with its own constitution, local laws and customs. Guernsey's dependencies include Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou, Lihou, and Brecqhou, while the Ecrehous rocks and Les Minquiers belong to Jersey. The last two were the source of a long-standing dispute between Great Britain and France until the International Court of Justice confirmed the British claim to them in 1953.

The islands have been British dependencies since 1066 when William the Conqueror became King. As Duke of Normandy, he had already ruled the islands.

During World War II Germany occupied the islands from summer 1940 until 9 May 1945.

source: Geoff Wright