The Giant’s Causeway is located in the County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland. It is about three miles northeast of the Bushmills town.
The causeway is the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption covering an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. It was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. It was also declared as a National Nature Reserve by the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland in 1987.
Shape and Formation
Columns are having having sides between four to eight but most of them are hexagonal in shape. Basalt Columns have been formed from the rapid cooling of Lava, rich in Magnesium and Iron.
The Geology tells that about 50 to 60 million years ago during the Paleocene Epoch, there happened an intense Volcanic activity in Antrim. Highly fluid molten Basalt intruded through the Chalk Beds and formed an extensive Volcanic Plateau. Contraction occurred as the Lava cooled. The tallest of the columns are about 12 meters high.
The Giant’s Causeway is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland.
