Huge cloud of mist cloaks the Isle of Man: What is it?
A new picture has emerged of a huge wall of sea fog leering menacingly over the Isle of Man.
The image was uploaded to Imgur, prompting many users to question what it is.
This thick sea fog that occasionally smothers the island's lowland areas is known locally as Manannan's Cloak, a reference to the Island's ancient Sea God, Manannán mac Lir, swathing his kingdom in mist to protect it from unwanted visitors.
A resident of the area explains the myth behind the name further on his Ramsey Daily Photo blog, writing: "Manannan is the mythical god of the sea, lord and protector of our land, Isle of Man. Manannan appears in many other Pagan and Celtic myths and legends but for us he is the guy who put the "Man" in the Isle of Man.
"Manannan's cloak is a mythical shroud of mist that Manannan would throw over the island to shroud us from our enemies in times of trouble. The cloak would roll in from the sea over the land, covering all from prying eyes, keeping us safe from unwanted visitors. The cloak takes the form of a tinged grey and purple fog slowly enveloping the land, until Manannan is safe to lift the shroud when the unwanted visitors have passed by."
The Isle of Man is an island in the British Isles, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. It is a British Crown dependency (and therefore not part of the United Kingdom itself); the UK is responsible for defence and foreign affairs.
The island has its own government (headed by a Chief Minister) and parliament - "Tynwald" (consisting of the democratically-elected "House of Keys" and the nominated "Legislative Council".)
The Isle of Man is a popular UK tourist destination, and is known for its wonderful hiking trails.
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