Jersey


Jersey is one of the Channel Islands, much closer to France than to Britain, but still belonging to Britain. Also known as the Bailiwick of Jersey, it is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, with its own financial, legal and judicial systems. Jersey is not part of the United Kingdom, but the UK is constitutionally responsible for the defence of Jersey. British cultural influence on the island is strong, English is the main language and Pound sterling its primary currency. But it also has Norman-French culture, the language Jèrriais, a historic dialect of the Norman language, is an official language, and standard French is used in legal matters and as a government language.

The rocks of Jersey are mostly Late Proterozoic Brioverian (900-700 Ma) volcanics and sedimentary rocks which formed in the mid and outer parts of a submarine fan. The sediments cover the central part of the island, while volcanics are found in the northeastern part. The northern coast and the peninsulas on the southern coast consist of granite intrusions which formed during the Cadomian Orogeny around 700 to 500 Ma. The island has no limestone or chalk deposits, flint found at the beaches originates from Cretaceous chalk deposits only found underwater.

The has no karst or karst caves due to the lack of suitable rocks. There are numerous sea caves in the granite along the coast. And there are numerous man-made sights, underground bunkers and hospitals, built by the Germans during the Occupation in World War II.