Alderney is the northernmost island of the Channel Islands, a group of islands in the English Channel that lie near the French coast. The Channel Islands are dependencies of the Crown but are not part of the United Kingdom. The islands are largely self-governing, though the British government takes responsibility for their defense and foreign affairs. Alderney has an area of 3 square miles (8 square kilometers). It lies a little over 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Southampton on the English mainland. It is closer to France than any other Channel Island, only about 9 miles (14 kilometers) west of Cap de la Hague. The highest point of Alderney is in the southwestern part of the island, where steep cliffs rise to about 270 feet (82 meters). Most of the land is over 195 feet (60 meters) above sea level. In the northeastern part of the island, the land slopes down to a coast of sandy bays, where old cliffs rise behind raised beaches.