Minquiers

About

The Minquiers (French pronunciation: [mɛ̃kje], Les Minquiers with definite article, Jèrriais: Les Mîntchièrs, known as "the Minkies" in local English) are a group of islands and rocks, about 15 kilometres (8 nautical miles) south of Jersey. They form part of the Bailiwick of Jersey. They are administratively part of the Parish of Grouville, and of its Vingtaine La Rocque. The rock shelf around the Minquiers has a larger surface area than Jersey itself, but at high tide, only a few of the main heads remain above water. The largest of these is Maîtresse, measuring approximately 50 metres (55 yards) in length and 20 metres (22 yards) in width, featuring around ten stone cottages in varying conditions of preservation. These are the most southerly buildings in the British Isles, but they have no permanent inhabitants; though fishermen, vraic (seaweed used for fertilizer) collectors, yachtsmen, kayakers, and even radio amateurs make summer landfall.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.