The history
Along the coast of Antrim, Northern Ireland lies a geological phenomenon. This phenomenon is so unusual it has become the stuff of legend among its people. The Giant’s Causeway is a region of roughly 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, formed between 50 and 60 million years ago. This formation came as a result of an intense, especially violent volcanic eruption. Molten basalt ejected from the highly active volcanoes of Antrim and made its way through chalk beds on the coastline. The molten basalt very quickly cooled in the brisk ocean air to contract into geometric shapes, similar to dry mud cracking. As the cracks continued downward, pillars of basalt were left behind, creating many “biscuits” of basalt around the pillars.
The tale
The unusual formations have been explained throughout history as an ancient causeway built by an especially valiant Irish warrior. In the tale, the warrior was challenged to a duel by a Scottish giant who had never seen the warrior. Seeing as the warrior was just the size of a human male, victory over the giant seemed impossible. Equipped with this knowledge the warrior began plotting a way out of the duel. The warrior’s quick-thinking wife disguised him as a baby and tucked him into a cradle and presented him to the giant. The giant fell for the ruse, and ran back over the bridge into Scotland, certainly terrified of what size the warrior must be if he produced a baby of such great size. The columns are said to be all that remains of the especially brave warrior’s bridge.
While it’s a pretty great story, you really have to see it for yourself, check out this video on the Giant’s Causeway, Ireland!
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Featured Image from Kevin McMahon/Unsplash
