Manche 90497 213255637 2008-05-18T15:06:03Z TXiKiBoT 3171782 robot Adding: [[cs:Manche (departement)]] {{otheruses4|the French administrative department|the Prison Break character|Manche Sanchez}} {{Infobox Department of France | department = Manche | img_coa = blason50.PNG | number = 50 | region = [[Basse-Normandie]] | prefecture = [[Saint-Lô]] | subprefectures = [[Avranches]]<br>[[Cherbourg-Octeville]]<br>[[Coutances]] | arrond = 4 | cantons = 52 | communes = 602 | president = [[Jean-François Le Grand]] | pres_party = | population = 481,471 | pop_rank = 52nd | pop_date = 1999 | density = 81 | area = 5938 | area_scale = 9 | alt mini = | alt maxi = | alt moy = }} '''Manche''' is a [[France|French]] [[Departments of France|department]] in [[Normandy]] named after '''La Manche''' ("the sleeve"), which is the [[French language|French]] name for the [[English Channel]]. == History == Manche is one of the original 83 departments created during the [[French Revolution]] on [[March 4]], [[1790]]. It was created from part of the province of [[Normandy|Normandie]]. The first capital was [[Coutances]] until [[1796]], and it resumed that role after [[World War II]] because of the almost complete destruction of [[Saint-Lô]] during the [[D-Day]] invasion of Normandy. When Saint-Lô was rebuilt, it again became the capital. == Geography == The department includes the [[Cotentin Peninsula]] and the islands of [[Chausey]]. It is part of the region of [[Basse-Normandie]] and is surrounded on three sides by the English Channel, with 350km of coastline, and on the other by the departments of [[Calvados]], [[Orne]], [[Mayenne]], and [[Ille-et-Vilaine]]. Geologically, the department is connected to the [[Massif Armoricain]]. == Climate == The climate is [[Oceanic climate|oceanic]], with mild winters, temperatures rarely reaching below freezing, and temperate summers, around 25°C. Precipitation is substantial, but varies greatly by region, between 700mm on the coast and 1300mm in the openfield land of the south. The west coast benefits from the [[Gulf stream]]'s influence, allowing the naturalization of many mediterranean and exotic plants (mimosas, palms, agaves...). There is often a sea breeze on the coast, which combined with tides contributes to quick temperature changes over a single day. == Demographics == Inhabitants of the department are called ''Manchots'' or ''Manchois''. ==See also== *[[Cantons of the Manche department]] *[[Communes of the Manche department]] *[[Arrondissements of the Manche department]] *[[Cotentinais]], the [[Norman language|Norman]] dialect of Manche. ==External links== * {{fr icon}} [http://www.manche.pref.gouv.fr/ Prefecture website] * {{fr icon}} [http://www.cg50.fr/ General Council website] <!-- please keep this link: Dmoz page holds a Wikipedia back link --> * {{en icon}} {{ODP|Regional/Europe/France/Regions/Lower_Normandy/Manche|Manche}} * {{fr icon}} [http://www.wikimanche.fr/ A whole wiki about the Manche !] * {{fr icon}} [http://www.manche-tourisme.com/medianet-uk.htm/ Comité départemental du tourisme de la Manche] {{Commons|Manche}} {{Departments of France}} [[Category:Normandy]] [[Category:Manche|*]] [[af:Manche]] [[an:A Manga (Franzia)]] [[frp:Manch·e (dèpartement)]] [[br:Manche]] [[bg:Манш (департамент)]] [[ca:Manche]] [[cv:Манш (департамент)]] [[ceb:Manche]] [[cs:Manche (departement)]] [[cy:Manche]] [[da:Manche]] [[de:Manche]] [[es:Mancha (Francia)]] [[eo:Manche]] [[eu:Manche]] [[fr:Manche (département)]] [[id:Manche]] [[it:Manica (dipartimento francese)]] [[pam:Manche]] [[la:Fretum Britannicum (praefectura Franciae)]] [[lb:Departement Manche]] [[lt:Manšas (departamentas)]] [[nl:Manche (departement)]] [[ja:マンシュ県]] [[no:Manche]] [[nn:Manche]] [[nrm:Maunche (département)]] [[oc:Marga (departament)]] [[nds:Manche]] [[pl:Manche]] [[pt:Mancha (departamento)]] [[ro:Manche]] [[ru:Манш (департамент)]] [[sk:Manche (departement)]] [[sl:Manche]] [[sr:Манш (департман)]] [[fi:Manche]] [[sv:Manche]] [[vi:Manche]] [[tg:Департаменти Манш]] [[uk:Манш (департамент)]] [[vo:Manche]] [[zh:芒什省]]