Brusnik
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Thirteen nautical miles southwest of Komiža, in the middle of the open sea, the black islet of Brusnik rises from the sea. At 23 meters high, 200 meters long and 150 meters wide, it is small but unique – along with Jabuka, it is the only Adriatic island built of igneous rocks. Unlike the Komiža volcanics, which were formed by the cooling of lava on the rim of an ancient volcano, Brusnik was formed by the crystallization of magma at depth as it traveled to the surface. Geologically, Brusnik is a wonder. Its conglomerates reveal that the island is still rising, and the shores, filled with gray diabase pebbles and covered with algae, create the impression of an extraterrestrial landscape. That is why it is often said that Brusnik is not just an island, but also a natural chronicle of the origin of the world. However, Brusnik does not only preserve the story of fire and stone. In its center is a gorge with a natural depression filled with sea. Komiža fishermen used larger pebbles to make pools for storing their caught lobsters, and on the large beach of black pebbles they built houses made of the same material. Covered with pine branches from Svec, they served as shelter from the sun and wind and as places where bluefish were salted in barrels. Thus, this small islet became the stage for two stories: geological, millions of years old, and fishing, which has shaped the lives of Komiža residents for centuries. In winter, lobsters intended for European metropolises were caught here, long before tourism reached our islands. Brusnik is also home to several endemic species, the most famous of which is the Brusnik black lizard. Due to its exceptional geological and natural value, the islet was declared a geological monument of nature in 1951 – a rarity among Adriatic islands, as most of them are formed from limestone, and not from rocks born “from fire”. Small, black and harsh, Brusnik still stands as a silent witness today – an island that grows and in its story combines the power of nature and the perseverance of man.