Special Sub-Topic: The English Channel Click Here To Play: The English Channel

Which English city has a regular ferry sailing across to France?

Portsmouth. In recent years, ferries can be taken from Portsmouth to Caen, Cherbourg, St Malo and Le Havre.

Which of the following islands is one of the Channel Islands?

Jersey. The main inhabited islands which comprise the Channel Islands are Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark and Herm. There are several smaller islands which are also populated.

Approximately how long is the Channel Tunnel?

30 miles (50 km). The Channel Tunnel actually consists of three tunnels: two rail tunnels and a third (smaller) service tunnel. It is 31.35 miles long.

In 1909, who piloted a monoplane over the English Channel?

Louis Bleriot. The Daily Mail offered a prize of £1000 for the first heavier-than-air crossing of the channel. Louis Bleriot piloted a Bleriot XI monoplane from Les Barraques to Dover on 25th July 1909, the crossing of 22 miles taking 37 minutes to complete.

What energetic first did Captain Matthew Webb achieve during August 1875?

He made the first recorded swim across the channel.. It took Captain Webb 21 hours and 45 minutes to swim across the Strait of Dover, from England to France.

If you are sailing across the English Channel from Dover to Calais, which particular shipping forecast area would you be most interested in?

Dover. From East to West, the shipping forecast areas are Dover, Wight, Portland and Plymouth.

The deepest point in the English Channel is just north of Guernsey. Approximately how deep is it?

180 metres. This spot has been a popular dumping location for surplus munitions left over after the two world wars. These include shells containing poison gas from World War One.

What do the French call the English Channel?

La Manche. La Manche is also French for "the sleeve", from the shape of the channel. However. The name may also derive from a Celtic name - the channel between the Scottish Highlands and the Outer Hebrides has a similar name - The Minch (or Minches).

Which of the following French towns is on the English Channel?

Cherbourg. Cherbourg has an curious nautical history - its waters were the scene of a battle between a Union and Confederate Warship (USS Kearsarge and CSS Alabama respectively) in 1864, and the Titanic embarked passengers here on its ill-fated maiden voyage.

During World War Two, in which year did the Allied forces successfully cross the English channel to commence the invasion of Normandy?

1944. D-Day was the 6th June 1944. Earlier, in 1942, an unsuccessful attempt to cross the channel to Dieppe was made by Allied forces, largely made up of Canadians.