"The Giants Causeway is an area of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland about three miles northeast of the town of Bushmills." (Wikipedia)
"According to legend, the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant. The story goes that the Irish giant [Finn] MacCool accepted the challenge and built the causeway across the North Channel so that the two giants could meet. In one version of the story [Finn] defeats Benandonner. In another [Finn] hides from Benanadonner when he realizes that his foe is much bigger than he is. [Finn's] wife Oonagh, disguises [Finn] as a baby and tucks him in a cradle. When Benandonner sees the size of the 'baby', he reckons that its father, [Finn], must be a giant among giants. He flees back to Scotland in fright, destroying the causeway behind him so that [Finn] would be unable to chase him down. Across the sea, there are identical basalt columns (a part of the same ancient lava flow) at Fingal's Cave on the Scottish isle of Straffa and it is possible that the story was influenced by this." (Wikipedia)
Now that I've shared with you the legend and the geology in brief, I'd like to share my impression! In a few words it was incredible, impressive, and awe inspiring. It took my breath away. Just witnessing the crashing of the waves, beating against the shore and seeing what the results of millions of years have done to sculpt this leaves one speechless! Oh, to have been able to spend more time there.
~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!
Cathy
Please join me for Mosaic Monday, image-in-ing, and Our World Tuesday.
