Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Geologists claim the Giant's Causeway was formed by volcanic eruptions more than 60
million years ago. As the surface of the lava flow quickly cooled, it contracted and crys-
tallized into columns (resembling the caked mud at the bottom of a dried-up lakebed, but
with deeper cracks). As the rock later settled and eroded, the columns broke off into the
many stair-like steps that now honeycomb the Antrim Coast.
Ofcourse,inactuality,theGiant'sCausewaywasmadebyagiantUlsterwarriornamed
Finn MacCool who knew of a rival giant living on the Scottish island of Staffa. Finn built
a stone bridge over to Staffa to spy on his rival, and found out that the Scottish giant was
much bigger. Finn retreated back to Ireland and had his wife dress him as a sleeping in-
fant, just in time for the rival giant to come across the causeway to spy on Finn. The rival,
shocked at the infant's size, fled back to Scotland in terror of whomever had sired this
giant baby. Breathing a sigh of relief, Finn tore off the baby clothes and prudently knocked
down the bridge. Today, proof of this encounter exists in the geologic formation that still
extends undersea and surfaces at Staffa.
