{{Short description|Islet off Cornwall, UK}} {{about|the British islet|the given name|Brison}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox landform |name = The Brisons |type = Islet |location = Cornwall, UK |pushpin_map = Cornwall |map_caption = Location in Cornwall |image = Brisons from above by Kernow Skies.jpg |caption = The Brisons from above |grid_ref_UK = |coordinates = {{Coord|50.12039|-5.72229|display=inline,title}} }}
'''The Brisons''' ({{langx|fr|Brisant}}, the present participle of ''briser'' meaning 'shoal of rocks' or literally 'breaker')<ref>{{Cite book |last=Padel |first=O. J. |title=A popular dictionary of Cornish place-names |date=1988 |publisher=Hodge |isbn=978-0-906720-15-8 |location=Penzance |pages=60}}</ref> is a twin-peaked islet in the Celtic Sea situated 1 mile (1.6 km) offshore from Cape Cornwall in Cornwall, on the south-western coast of Great Britain.<ref>Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 203 ''Land's End'' {{ISBN|978-0-319-23148-7}}</ref>
==Geography== The Brisons (the name is French: brisant, 'reef, breaker') are {{convert|22|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|27|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} high and are said to resemble General Charles de Gaulle lying on his back ("General de Gaulle in his bath").<ref>{{cite web|title=What to see at Cape Cornwall|url=http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/what-to-see-at-cape-cornwall|work=National Trust|access-date=14 January 2018}}</ref> The rocks are connected to Gribba Point ({{langx|kw|Pen an Gribow}}, meaning ''head of the reefs'') by the Guthen Gwidden reef ({{langx|kw|Kudhen Gwydn}}, meaning ''white hidden one''). The gap in the reef is called the Adgiwar Gap ({{langx|kw|Aja Wer}}, meaning ''green gap''). In 1878, an article in the Cornishman newspaper names the reef between the ″Brissons″ and the land as Bridges, and the reef had three gaps; the nearest known as Rose-an-pons.<ref>{{cite news|title=A Contrast|work=The Cornishman|date=8 August 1878|page=7}}</ref>
==Wildlife and ecology== In 2016 the rocks were visited by the West Cornwall Ringing Group where they heard at least two European storm petrel (''Hydrobates pelagicus'') calling; an indication of breeding on the only known site in Cornwall.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Grantham|first1=Mark|title=Breeding Stormies on the Brisons|url=http://cornishringing.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/breeding-stormies-on-brisons.html|website=West Cornwall Ringing Group|access-date=10 June 2016|date=8 June 2016}}</ref> Sixty-six birds were ringed: * European shag (''Phalacrocorax aristotelis'') – 42 including two adults * razorbill (''Alca torda'') – 13 including seven adults * guillemot (''Uria aalge'') – 11 including eight adults.
==History== In 1851, the 250 ton brig ''New Commercial'' was wrecked, striking the ledge between the Great and Little Brisons. A dramatic rescue of the surviving crew was attempted, resulting in the death of all but two of the members. As a result, the ''National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck ''(later the RNLI) established a lifeboat in Sennen Cove in 1853, where one is still based today.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Sennen Cove Lifeboats: An Illustrated History|last = Leach|first = Nicholas|publisher = The History Press|year = 2014|isbn = 978-0750955485}}</ref>
==Recreation== During "Cape sports" an annual water sports event based on the beach at Cape Cornwall, swimming races are conducted from the Brisons back to the beach.
==References== {{Portal|Cornwall}} {{reflist|30em}}
== Gallery == <gallery> File:Bollowal Barrow Cape Cornwall and the Brisons at Carn Gloose by Kernow Skies.jpg|Bollowal Barrow, Cape Cornwall and the Brisons File:The Brisons in the mist Cornwall.jpg|The Brisons in the mist Cornwall File:The Brisons and Cape Cornwall.jpg|The Brisons and Cape Cornwall File:The Brisons 5.jpg|Sparkling Sun at The Brisons File:The Brisons 4.jpg|The Brisons File:The Brisons 2.jpg|The Brisons seen from Carn Brea File:The Brisons.jpg|The Brisons File:Brisons zoomed in 1.png|Closer image of the Sourthly (left) islet </gallery><!-- Deleted image removed: thumb|right|300px|Close-up view of The Brisons -->
Category:Landforms of Cornwall Category:Penwith Category:Reefs of the Atlantic Ocean Category:Reefs of England Category:Seabird colonies Category:Uninhabited islands of Cornwall Category:St Just in Penwith Category:Celtic Sea