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The '''Isle of Man''' ([[Manx language|Manx]]: ''Ellan Vannin'') is a substantial island in the [[Irish Sea]], between [[Scotland]], [[England]], [[Wales]] and [[Ireland]]. The capital of the island is [[Douglas]], and other major towns are [[Ramsey]], [[Peel]], [[Castletown]] and [[Port Erin]]. The central mountain of Snaefell is ascended by a light railway.  

The '''Isle of Man''' ([[Manx language|Manx]]: ''Ellan Vannin'') is a substantial island in the [[Irish Sea]], between [[Scotland]], [[England]], [[Wales]] and [[Ireland]]. The capital of the island is [[Douglas]], and other major towns are [[Ramsey]], [[Peel]], [[Castletown]] and [[Port Erin]]. The central mountain of Snaefell is ascended by a light [[tram]] railway.  

Access is generally via ferry from [[Belfast]], [[Dublin]], Heysham or [[Liverpool]], to Douglas, or by air to Ronaldsway, near Castletown from various British airports and Dublin.  

Access is generally via ferry from [[Belfast]], [[Dublin]], Heysham or [[Liverpool]], to Douglas, or by air to Ronaldsway, near Castletown from various British airports and Dublin.  

A politically distinct entity from the rest of the [[United Kingdom]] (technically a British Crown Dependency), it is the site of the oldest continuous [[parliament]] in the [[world]], the [[Tynwald]]. [[Queen Elizabeth II]], as Lord of Mann, is the titular head of state. The Isle of Man is a socially conservative community and the judicial use of corporal punishment persisted here longer than in any other part of the [[British Isles]], the birch for juvenile offenders being employed until 1976.

A politically distinct entity from the rest of the [[United Kingdom]] (technically a British Crown Dependency), it is the site of the oldest continuous [[parliament]] in the [[world]], the [[Tynwald]] which consists of a directly elected House of Keys and an indirectly elected Legislative Council. [[Queen Elizabeth II]], as Lord of Mann, is the titular head of state. The Isle of Man is a socially conservative community and the judicial use of corporal punishment persisted here longer than in any other part of the [[British Isles]], the birch for juvenile offenders being employed until 1976. Despite being a conservative community it has had legalised [[abortion]] up to 14 weeks into a pregnancy since 2019 and has laws supporting [[homosexual]] and [[transgender]] people and preventing discrimination against them. The laws regarding abortion, homosexuality and transgenderism have been opposed by the island's Conservative party which plans to remove them if it wins the next election in the House of Keys.

The island flag depicts an ancient symbol called the ''triskelion'' or ''tre cassyn,'' consisting of three legs arranged in a swastika-like manner from a single central hub;<ref>[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/im.html CRW Flags]</ref> a similar symbol is found on the flag of Sicily<ref>[http://www.fotw.net/flags/it-sic.html Flags of the World]</ref>

The island flag depicts an ancient symbol called the ''triskelion'' or ''tre cassyn,'' consisting of three legs arranged in a swastika-like manner from a single central hub;<ref>[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/im.html CRW Flags]</ref> a similar symbol is found on the flag of Sicily<ref>[http://www.fotw.net/flags/it-sic.html Flags of the World]</ref>