Giants Causeway Photo Tour

The Natural Wonder of Giants Causeway!

On an island of stunning landscapes, Giants Causeway, on Northern Ireland’s Antrim coast, is one of the most gorgeous.  Spring is the best time of year for exploring the coast, also referred to as the Causeway Coast, but no trip is complete without a visit to the Causeway itself.

Three periods of volcanic activity formed the Causeway Coast, leaving a series of basalt formations that create the Causeway.  Perhaps the giants are unaware, but the basalt formations are not unique.  Similar volcanic remains are found on every continent except Antarctica, and almost without exception, they create a picture perfect scene.  Many of these areas are known by locals, or countrymen, and sometimes throughout the region. But none are world-renowned like the Giants Causeway.

Perhaps it is because at Giants Causeway the 40,000 basalt pillars appear perfectly uniform.  Perhaps it is how they are stacked between volcanic plateau cliffs and the rugged Atlantic.  Or perhaps it is nothing more than the fact that this is Ireland, the land of myths, magic, and legends.

If you don’t have time to enjoy the legend now, you can Pin it for later.

 

 

The legendary creation of Giants Causeway

It is the legend of Finn MacCool that stems from the Causeway, or perhaps it was Finn MacCool that created the Causeway to forever tell his tale.  Finn was a giant, some 52 feet tall.  But in the myths of giants, Finn was kindly, and relatively small.  Across the sea, in Scotland, there was a rival giant, Benandonner.  The two giants yelled across the sea at each other, and finally, it was decided that they must have a test of strength, to decide which was the greater.

Finn labored furiously, heaving great stones into the sea to form a bridge across Irish Sea, so the two could meet to have their match of strength.  When his work was complete, Finn was deeply tired, and fell into a deep sleep.

While Finn was sleeping, his wife, Oonagh, heard the thundering steps of Benandonner as he approached for the battle of strength.  She realized that this enemy was HUGE.  She rushed to Finn’s room and dressed him in her night-cap and night-shirt.

When Benandonner arrived, he bellowed for the Finn to come for the battle.  Oonagh scolded him, telling him to be quiet, lest he wake the babe. When Benandonner scoffed in return, Oonagh let him peer in to see Finn sleeping, in the night-cap and shirt.

When Benandonner saw the sleeping “baby,” he became terrified.  If the baby was this large, the father must be gigantic.  He decided against the battle of strength, and fled back to Scotland.  Just to be sure that he would never have to face this gargantuan Finn, he tore up the bridge between the islands, leaving only the causeway.

While Finn and Benandonner went on to other mythical adventures on each of their islands, the Giants Causeway has been a source of wonder ever since.

Giants Causeway Photo Tour

Geologists have an entirely different explanation for the how the amazing landscape came to be.  It all started  about 60, yes, 60 million years ago, when there was intense volcanic activity in the area.  A bunch of molten rock came up through fissures and formed a plateau of lava.  This plateau just drops off, forming the cliffs along the coast.

The third phase of volcanic action formed what now appears to be a layer along the top of the plateau.  This band was iron rich in comparison to the two before.  The bands from this phase can clearly be seen from the water, as they are a deep red along the top of the black band beneath.  This layer is only visible due to erosion, and it is called the Inter Basaltic Bed.

Strangely, it was actually the phase in the middle which formed the columns that are commonly known as the Giants Causeway.  The columns came to be because the lava in this layer was cooling quickly.  When the outside crust was formed, the inside was still hot.  The outside began to dry out, and crack, much like skin cracks as it gets too dry.

But we think the story of Finn MacCool suits the wonder of Giants Causeway perfectly, and we will stick with that!

From a distance, the basalt columns appear quite uniform.  However, upon closer examination it becomes apparent that there is quite a bit of variation.  Although all are hexagonal, the number of sides generally fluctuates between 3 and 7, and a few even have 8 sides.  The circumference of the pillars also varies.

It is actually this size that cause the differences along the tops of the pillars.  Some are convex, and some are concave.  Each column has a number of joints along it’s length.  The name for this is corrugation.  These joints can be seen in close up views.  When the larger columns pressed in on the smaller columns during the drying process, it changed the form of the joints.  The larger pillars then have the concave surfaces and joints, while the smaller are convex.  This is why only some of the pillars have little pools of water from the tide.

Giants Causeway has been awarded the honor of being a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It is the only such one in Northern Ireland.  UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

There is a very specific list of criteria that must be met for a location to become a Heritage Site, and it is a highly coveted award.  Each year numerous countries vie to have their prized destinations nominated and awarded the title.  In addition, once named, a site must maintain a strict set of standards to retain the title.

Giants causeway happens to be on the list as both a cultural and a natural site.  To put this in context, there are only 25 such sites in the entire world!

If our Giants Causeway photo tour has intrigued you, make a visit to Northern Ireland’s Antrim coast soon, and do some exploring of your own.

The Causeway is open at 9:00 every day except Christmas and New Years.  The trails are accessible, and portions of the formations are as well.  The Visitor’s Center has informational displays and a film, as well as a cafe and gift shop.  For more information see Ireland’s National Trust website.

It is a very special place, and being a UNESCO World Heritage Site tells you that is not just our opinion.  The United Nations thinks so too.

If you are considering a visit to Ireland, start with Our 10 Day Ireland Itinerary, and you will want to add some exploration of the Causeway Coastal Route to your trip!

If you are interested in more of Ireland’s natural wonders, you will want check out The Cliffs of Moher and O’Briens Tower.

For places with less visitors, try the Skellig Ring, or the Irish Countryside.