Basse-Normandie region, France, satellite image. North is at top. Vegetation is shown in green, water in blue, and urban areas in grey. Basse-Normandie (highlighted) is an administrative region in the north of France. To the north and west lies the English Channel. The region has a population of around 1.5 million (2005). Its capital is Caen, which lies towards the northern coastline. The port of Cherbourg is at the north of the Cotentin peninsula. To the west is the island of Jersey, UK.