Alderney

The island has a population of 2400 people, and they are traditionally nicknamed lapins after the number of rabbits seen in the island.

History

Alderney shares a history with the other Channel Islands, becoming an island in the Neolithic period as the waters of the Channel rose.

The etymology of the Island's name is obscure. It is known in Latin as Riduna (giving the rarely-used adjective Ridunian for inhabitants of Alderney), but as with the names of the all the Channel Islands in the Roman period there is a degree of confusion.

After choosing independence from France and loyalty to the English monarch in his role as the Duke of Normandy, in 1204, Alderney developed slowly and was not much involved with the rest of the world. The harbour was never completed - the remaining breakwater (designed by James Walker) is one of the island's landmarks, and is longer than any breakwater in the UK.

The last of the hereditary Governors, John Le Mesurier, resigned his patent to the Crown in 1825 since when authority has been exercised by the States of Alderney (as amended by the constitutional settlement of 1948).

The island was occupied by German forces during World War II. Each camp was named after one of the Frisian Islands and included Nordeney located at Saye, Borkum at Platte Saline, Sylt near the old telegraph tower at La Foulère, and Heligoland. The German officer left in charge of the facilities, Kommandant Oberst Schwalm, burned the camps to the ground and destroyed all records connected with their use before the island was liberated by British forces on May 16, 1945. The German garrison on Alderney surrendered a week after the other Channel Islands, and was one of the last garrisons to surrender in Europe.

For two years after the end of World War II, Alderney was operated as a communal farm. Remaining profits were put aside to repay the British Government for repairing and rebuilding the island. The law organised the make up and election of the States of Alderney, the justice system and, for the first time in Alderney, the imposition of taxes. Due to the small population of Alderney, it was believed that the island could not be self-sufficient in running the airport and the harbour, as well as in providing services that would match those of the United Kingdom.

The 20th century saw a lot of change in Alderney, from the building of the airport in the late 1930s to the death of the last speakers of the island's language (Auregnais, a dialect of Norman language).

Politics

The States of Alderney is the legislature of the island, and sends two representatives to the States of Guernsey as well.

The States of Alderney consists of the President, directly elected every 4 years, and 10 States Members, half elected every 2 years for a 4 year mandate.

Geography

In terms of geography Alderney is similar to the other islands in that it has sheer cliffs broken by stretches of sandy beach and dunes.

Alderney and its surrounding islets feature a rich flora and fauna. Puffins on Burhou and gannets on Les Étacs just off Alderney are a favourite of many visitors to the island . The island has its own breed of cattle, called the Alderney, though they are no longer bred on the island. In August 2005, the west coast of Alderney and associated islands, including Burhou and Ortac, were designated as Ramsar wetlands of international importance.

Travelling to Alderney is fairly easy, and in season it is a popular holiday destination. Boats sail regularly between the island and France, as well as the other Channel Islands.

The Alderney Railway is the only railway now remaining in the Channel Islands.

The island is surrounded by rocks, which have caused hundreds of wrecks. There are two treacherous tidal streams on either side of the island: the Swinge between Alderney and Burhou, just outside the harbour, and Le Raz between the island and the Norman mainland.

Culture

Auregnais, the local dialect of Norman is extinct, and French is no longer spoken in the island (except by tourists);

Golf, Fishing and other water sports are popular on the island, though there are many clubs and associations on the island for sports and other leisure activities (List of Clubs &

Alderney Week is celebrated from the first Monday of August, during which a number of events take place.

Being a quiet and secluded island, Alderney has attracted a number of famous residents, including authors T.