Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast Nature Reserve, United Kingdom

Giant’s Causeway and

Causeway Coast is located on the north coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is the only UNESCO World Heritage site in the country. The 0.7 km2 coastal boundary is shaped similar to a rectangle, reaching out into the Northern Atlantic Ocean, and climbing south up the sheer cliffs onto the flat highlands of the Antrim Plateau. The most famous physical features of Giant’s Causeway are its massive cliffs and around 40,000 hexagonal basalt column outcroppings. The cliffs can reach heights of around 100 meters and are accompanied by large clusters of the basalt pillars that descend, in some areas, in what resemble large stairs. These “steps” reach down to the coast where other maritime features, such as exposed cliffs and sea caves, are present. The Climate of the park is cool, damp and windy, being dictated by the prominent westerly ocean winds. The area receives around 1,000 mm of annual rainfall and the temperature usually stays around 4-14 degrees C. The protected area is host to plants such as Parnassus, wild thyme, ragwort, rare orchids, ash, hazel, and blackthorn trees. Land animals including rabbit, badger, fox, Irish hare, and others typical to Northern Ireland can be seen here. Off the coast, you can spot whales, porpoises, basking sharks, seals, and various other marine life. The reasoning for its protection status is mostly due to the importance of preserving the basalt pillars, which showcase not only natural beauty, but important stages of Earth’s geological development. There are several hiking trails available in Giant’s Causeway, including a 9-km long trek beginning in the nearby village of Portballintrae, winding along the coast and cliffside, and ending at the ruins of Dunseverick Castle to west. The great basalt pillars of Giant’s Causeway have been a source of inspiration for legends of giants who fought for their homeland of Northern Ireland, subsequently altering and creating the modern landscape. Gaelic lore says that the iconic basalt pillars of Giant’s Causeway are the remnants of a causeway built by a giant named Finn McCool, so that he could cross the North Channel and accept the challenge of a Scottish giant Benandonner. Out of fear of his opponent, Benandonner fled back to Scotland while dismantling the causeway on his way out, resulting in the features left standing today. Giant’s Causeway became a popular tourist attraction in the mid-to-late 19th century, which leading to the construction of a railway from the nearby town of Portrush directly to the causeway. Commercial development of the site continued until the 1960s when the National Trust stepped in. Majority of the vegetated sea cliffs in the park are designated as the North Antrim Coast Special Area of Conservation, and much of the property is part of the greater Giant’s Causeway and Dunseverick Area of Special Scientific Interest. Additionally, the surrounding coastal areas have been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The National Trust ensures the integrity of these natural features are protected from commercialization efforts. During the late 17th century, the Bishop of Derry visited Giant’s Causeway and reported its existetnce to much of the western world. Throughout the 18th century, it gained international attention thanks to the works of distinguished artists. Some of the more popular artist renditions of the basalt outcrops at Giant’s Causeway were featured in encyclopedias, leading to intrigue of the geological process involved with creating such structures. Over the next couple of centuries, Giant’s Causeway would become a popular destination for both tourists and academics. However, the transition of Northern Ireland to the United Kingdom led to much protest and violence throughout the 20th century, which negatively affected the tourist industry of the region. In 1986, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Nature Reserve in 1987. Giant’s Causeway holds significant geological value and is considered to be the most renowned geological site in Northern Ireland, according to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. It has offered a detailed view into the origins of igneous rocks and provided essential information to guide geologists to our current understanding of the Earth’s structure and mechanisms. The beauty of Giant’s Causeway has inspired people on cultural and scientific level for centuries and thanks to protective measures it may continue to inspire future generations.