THE GIANT’S CAUSEWAY

Country Antrim, Northern Ireland

ALONZO DUMCEL KAY

HOW WAS THE GIANT’S CAUSEWAY FORMED?

GEOLOGICAL EXPLANATION:

60 million years ago, the Giant’s Causeway was formed due to a volcanic eruption. Lava erupted from the earth’s crust covering the plateau.

When volcanic eruption was over, 40,000 hexagonal columns were left

which is now the most popular tourist destination in Northern

Ireland.

THE LEGEND Legend claims that the giant Finn

McCool built the causeway from the North Coast of Antrim as a pathway to the Scottish island of Staffa to confront his enemy Benandonner. Determined to confront Benandonner, Finn spent almost a week building the causeway to Staffa.

…He did not stop working for six days and when he laid the final stones, Finn fell asleep on

the causeway. The thundering footsteps pounding on the causeway awoke Finn who saw the giant Benandonner approaching. When Finn saw that Benandonner was almost twice his own

size, Finn raced home to Oonagh, his wife.

…Oonagh wrapped Finn up in blankets as if he was a baby and left him to sleep in a large

cradle by the fire side. When Oonagh welcomed Benandonner into her home, she

explained that Finn would arrive soon and that Benandonner could wait by the fireside, as

long as he did not awake the sleeping infant.

…When Bendandonner saw the huge size of

Finn's child, he could only imagine the size of the baby's father. A fearful Benandonner ran back to Staffa, tearing up the causeway to

prevent Finn from following.

The giant’s causeway consists of 40,000 hexagonal basaltic columns. The columns form huge stepping stone that is as high as 39 feet

and it slopes down to the sea. Some of the columns have four, seven or eight sides.

Weathering of the rock

formation has also created

circular structures,

which the locals call ‘giant’s

eyes’.

Many of the columns fit together so closely that it is impossible to insert a knife blade between

them. And when viewed from above, the causeway looks like a man made street.

The rocky coastline around the giant’s causeway has caused many shipwrecks. In 1588, over 1,000 men were killed when a Spanish ship sank and today, the rocks are known as Spaniard rock.

In 1986, the Giant’s Causeway was considered as a World Heritage

site by UNESCO.  This is Northern Ireland's only World Heritage Site.

NOTABLE FEATURES FOUND AT THE GIANT’S

CAUSEWAY

The Giant’s Shoe

The Chimney Stacks

Honeycomb

Camel’s Hump

Giant’s Gate

FLORA

Sea Spleenwor

t

Hare’s-foot

Trefoil

Vernal Squill

Frog Orchid

Hazel Tree

Oak

Ash Tree

Yew

Karst

Sea Mayweed

FAUNA

Red Deer

Wren

Viviparous lizard

European Robin

White-tailed Eagle

Atlantic Puffin

HOW TO GET THERE?From Manila to Belfast City.

From Belfast Central Station travel by train to Coleraine.

Then from Coleraine, travel by bus to the site.

HOTELS IN ANTRIMHOLIDAY

INN EXPRESS

STABLE COURT LODGI

NG

DUNSILLY HOTEL

THANK YOU!