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Tuesday, June 3, 2008

The Giant's Causeway



All photos enlarge if clicked on


The Giant's Causeway is a World Heritage site, National Nature Reserve, and Northern Ireland’s premier tourist attraction.

We walked along the causeway path and passed many unusual cliff rock formations along the way.




We finally began seeing the unusual natural rock formations on the ground along the coast.

The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption 60 million years ago. Most columns are hexagonal, but some have four, five, eight or ten sides, and are about 12 inches across.

It is estimated that about 40,000 of the basalt columns extend from the cliffs down into the sea.


Close to the shore, they have been eroded to form the Grand, Middle, and Little Causeways.

There are a few different legends about the Giant Finn MacCool built the causeway to walk to Scotland to fight his counterpart Benandonner. If you click on MacCool's name it will take you to a website where you can read the entire amusing and fanciful story about him.

My husband and I had a lot of fun climbing over the columns, balancing on them, sitting on the different formations, and taking photos of them. Lots of other tourists did too!

They were so unusual and truly looked like nature's stepping stones leading into the ocean. I could see how they could be thought of as magical, and entertain a bit of lore and fable as to their purpose.



You can watch a short preview of the audio-visual film they show at the Giant's Causeway visitors center here --just click on your bandwidth speed at the link on the website. Also, there are some videos people have taken of the area on YouTube. Just put "Giant's Causeway" in the search box to see a list of them.



Our very full and wonderful day in Northern Ireland comes to an end, and we return to Dublin by bus then rail.
Next blog post we'll be back in Dublin, and I'll be happy to show you some more highlights of that beautiful and friendly city.


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35 comments:

  1. TracyJune 3, 2008 at 7:36 AM

    HI, Pat! Can't even begin to tell you what JOY it is to be catching up with you here, reading and seeing about your trip to Ireland. I've got tears in my eyes...it's all so beautiful. So glad you had a wonderful time! And thanks for stopping by. See you soon...Happy Day ((HUGS))

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  2. Edie Marie's AtticJune 3, 2008 at 8:22 AM

    Hi Pat!
    Amazing! I've heard of the Giant's Causeway but never had seen photo's of it. Those are interesting formations. Wes said he'd never heard of it and that it would be worse than bouncing down a stairway!!
    Great post and soooo interesting!
    Hugs, Sherry

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  3. Tess KincaidJune 3, 2008 at 9:03 AM

    Those columns are incredible! Great pix. I am really enjoying your trip. I wish you could have put me in your suitcase and taken me along. ;)

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  4. DorothyJune 3, 2008 at 9:15 AM

    More amazing photos Pat...a beautiful country with so much wonderful history. Thank you for sharing with us all...

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  5. KathyJune 3, 2008 at 9:16 AM

    What great photos! It's a dream in our family to visit Ireland. Thank you for taking us there. I'm looking forward to our next stop in Dublin! ~Kathy

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  6. AnonymousJune 3, 2008 at 9:26 AM

    Wow, just wow! That is amazing. I've never heard of The Giant Causeway. Nature is the ultimate artist.

    I feel so blessed that you are allowing us to see all of these wonders through your eyes.

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  7. AnonymousJune 3, 2008 at 9:39 AM

    Your pictures of Ireland are so beautiful, I had no idea what an amazing country it is! Hope you are having the time of your life!

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  8. katylinvwJune 3, 2008 at 9:49 AM

    what beautiful pictures! it looks like you had a great trip! (i've always wanted to travel to ireland!) thank you for visiting my blog! you're welcome any time!

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  9. GinaJune 3, 2008 at 10:05 AM

    I had heard of it but didn't realise how amazing it was.. you must have strong ankles to go and down on all those columns.. fascinating geology! :)

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  10. VeeJune 3, 2008 at 10:26 AM

    How unusual! Some of those formations look like sculpture. I'm loving this tour!

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  11. Mrs. BJune 3, 2008 at 12:54 PM

    Hi Pat! Wow, those rock formations are amazing! I don't think I've ever seen anything like that. What a beautiful place. I love hearing about the local legends too.

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  12. Marina CapanoJune 3, 2008 at 1:45 PM

    Hi Pat!Amazing! Thanks so very much for sharing! I love your post!
    xoxo

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  13. Marina CapanoJune 3, 2008 at 2:18 PM

    Hi Pat! thanks for your commets!super! I add you my give away! thanks so much! see you!

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  14. WendsterJune 3, 2008 at 5:29 PM

    Pat,

    That was such a treat to see those pictures of Ireland! I especially loved the doors. So much character!

    Thanks for sharing!
    (Do you miss it?)

    Wendy

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  15. CynthiaJune 3, 2008 at 7:24 PM

    So stunningly beautiful, I have to visit your country one day.

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  16. JeannelleJune 3, 2008 at 7:44 PM

    Wow, the scenes are incredible! I love the photos of the pink flowers growing in the columns. I didn't know a place like that existed in the world.

    Thank you for stopping by my tour post, too.

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  17. LaviniaJune 3, 2008 at 8:11 PM

    Friends of mine who have visited the giant's causeway have marvelled at it, and I never tire of looking at any photos of it. It just seems so remarkable....

    I have enjoyed your Irish pictorial immensely, and glad there's more to come...

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  18. AnonymousJune 3, 2008 at 8:15 PM

    I am speechless over those magnificent formations. What a joy it must have been to experience them first hand. Again, another wonderful post.

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  19. steviewrenJune 3, 2008 at 8:32 PM

    This is absolutely incredible! I have never seen pictures of this natural wonder. You had quite a trip.

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  20. Judy June 3, 2008 at 9:09 PM

    Wow...I can see why it has been designated as a World Heritage site. Thanks for sharing your beautiful pic's.

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  21. PATJune 3, 2008 at 9:48 PM

    I've had so much fun looking through your Ireland posts, Pat! I'll be back tomorrow for a closer look!

    I love the doorway photos! Gorgeous!

    Pat

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  22. Betsy BrockJune 3, 2008 at 10:21 PM

    Wow! I have never seen anything like that before! I can't believe that was done by nature! I sure am enjoying your Vacation! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  23. Lisa's RetroStyleJune 3, 2008 at 11:23 PM

    Very cool!!

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  24. Southern LadyJune 4, 2008 at 7:58 AM

    Hi, Pat ...

    I appreciate your taking the time to visit my "Southern Lagniappe" blog and for your comment. I'm so glad it led me to your beautiful "Mille Fiori Favoriti."

    Your photographs of the Giant's Causeway are truly awesome. I will be back to hear more about your wonderful trip and to see your pictures.

    Hope you will visit "Southern Lagniappe" again, too.

    Sincerely,
    Janie

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  25. a woman who isJune 4, 2008 at 2:13 PM

    I have never even heard of this amazing little spot on the planet.

    You just can't stop imagining how that all came about?

    Thanks for sharing your trip with us.

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  26. TaraJune 4, 2008 at 5:54 PM

    Hi Pat

    Song from my fave movie!!!

    Have you ever seen the Giant mountain near Hamden, Conn, near Quinnipiac College? It is supposed to look like this!

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  27. IslandsparrowJune 4, 2008 at 6:07 PM

    Hi Pat - I just dropped over from Judy's via Lovella's! It's fun to look at all these pictures of Northern Ireland - my husaand just back from a wonderful visit there. I loved the Giant's Causeway - and we had a sunny day there too. It's a gorgeous country!

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  28. IslandsparrowJune 4, 2008 at 6:08 PM

    I meant to write "My husband and I just got back..." :)

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  29. Grand LifeJune 4, 2008 at 6:22 PM

    I've not been to Ireland but I love England, so maybe someday.
    I love posts about people's travels. I'll be looking forward to Dublin. Have a great time.
    Judy

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  30. MargJune 4, 2008 at 8:10 PM

    Congratulations on becoming a grandmother. It's awesome. I could post something every day.
    I love your music. That's my next challenge and I borrowed your flower theme. I'm not a Daffodil. I'm a Canna. That's really unique.

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  31. AnonymousJune 5, 2008 at 1:07 AM

    Oh my gosh, Pat - what beautiful photographs you brought back to share with us! I think Ireland is pretty much at the top of my list of places to visit someday. I don't think I ever would have been brave enough to cross the rope bridge! I would have been one of the ones they had to ferry back! ha ha... And I have never in my life seen horses laying down like that! The painted doors, the castles, the scenery, the food... what a wonderful experience! Thank you for 'taking us with you.'!!!...Donna

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  32. AnonymousJune 5, 2008 at 1:44 AM

    Thanks for the photo's, they are amazing indeed. What a delight to travel with you. That bridge is a 'wow'. Martha

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  33. LouiseJune 5, 2008 at 3:16 AM

    The Giant's Causeway is amazing. It really should be on a list of a wonder of the world. I haven't ever seen anything like it. What a place to have the chance of a visit. x

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  34. Rosie's WhimsyJune 5, 2008 at 6:44 AM

    Those formations are amazing! I would love to play on those. My husband says I am part goat. If there is a rock formation along the path when we are hiking, I just have to try and climb it!

    ((hugs)) Rosie

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  35. RueJune 6, 2008 at 7:21 PM

    Those are so weird, but beautiful :)

    still reading...
    rue

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