Island in English Channel Further from France than England

Problem

There is a certain island, situated between England and France,

and yet, that island is farther from France than England is.

Solution

At their closest point, England and France are $34$ kilometres apart.

The English Channel, the body of water which lies between England and France is considerably wider than that through most of its length.

Guernsey, for example, one of the Channel Islands, is about $42$ kilometres from France, but well and truly in the English Channel between England and France.

The Isle of Wight is also between England and France, and considerably further away from France than Guernsey is.

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Sources

• 1821: John Jackson: Rational Amusement for Winter Evenings: Geographical Paradoxes
• 1992: David Wells: Curious and Interesting Puzzles ... (previous) ... (next): Rational Amusements for Winter Evenings: $162$