Exploring Northern Ireland in 2 days, Part 2, The Giant's Causeway, A Train Ride and The Rope Bridge of Carrick-a-Rede
The Giant's Causeway is the 4th most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland. It was created when hot lava or Basalt cooled too quickly and formed unusual rock formations. On the way down to the site, which is about a 20 minute walk from the tourist center, I took some pictures of the coastline. 50 or 60 million years ago, the Antrim area of Ireland was subject to intense volcanic activity. During this period a lava plateau was formed by the eruptions. As the lava cooled it contracted and the flow was constricted thus creating the unusal rock formations. And they really are most unusal. Some of them are hexagons, octagons, and they look as though they were hand cut to fit together. Some look like giant prisms. And others like stepping stones. What facinated me was how they shot straight up and factured vertically instead of horizontally. Some of these columns shoot 36 feet into the air. The Irish are known for their blarney. Just so...