Giant’s Causeway

Giant’s Causeway Latest News

Geochronologists investigating how the Giant’s Causeway was created recently discovered it was formed over 5.5m years, 8m years less than previously estimated.

About Giant’s Causeway

• It is located on the coastal edge of the Antrim Plateau in Northern Ireland. 
• The region consists of 6 kilometers (4 miles) of stepping-stone-like black basalt columns. 
• Some 40,000 stone pillars can be found here. 
• Each stone is a curiously distinct polygon or hexagon, with seemingly unnatural straight edges. 
• The pillars range in height, and shoot up out of the sea, increasing in height until they reach the cliff top. 
• This stepping stone or stair-like appearance of the area is where the Giant’s Causeway name is thought to have originated, as the columns look much like steps for a giant. 
• It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.

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Giant’s Causeway Formation

• The rock and column formations were first formed some 50 to 60 million years ago, during the Paleogene Period.
• The columns originally formed due to extensive volcanic activity in the area. 
• Molten basalt rose up through a layer of chalk beds, creating what is known as a volcanic plateau. 
• The lava then began to cool and contract, which caused fractures and edges within the rock. 
• As the lava flow continued to cool, it receded, leaving behind tall column shapes. 
• Because the lava cooled very quickly, it receded a great deal, leaving behind particularly prominent and large columns. 

News: TG