Giants Causeway Coast, United Kingdom

Northern Ireland has the wonderful natural monument called the Giant's Causeway. It is the plateau consisting of more than 40 000 basalt and andesite columns. The plateau has been formed during an eruption of an ancient volcano, when the flow of lava went into contact with the cool waters of the ocean. When the lava was cooled, cracks appeared on it, but not in a random order.

As a result of horizontal compression, the plateau was divided into numerous hexagonal pillars. It is gradually disappearing in the water and looks incredibly impressive. Despite the fact that this natural wonder is unique and there is nothing alike in the world, at the heart of its formation there are simple laws of physics. The same physical phenomena can be observed when the dirt is drying. The surface of the earth is covered with a fairly regular geometric patterns.

Locals mention the unusual lava plateau in the amazing legend, according to which the road was built by the hero, Finn Mac Koeman. He had to fight with the one-eyed giant named Gall. The hero managed to frighten the giant with his wit so much, that the ogre broke the bridge, leaving only part of it at the coast. Some incredible historical events are also associated with the lava plateau. During the war with Spain, one of the ships of Invincible Armada has taken high basalt columns for huge chimneys of the castle. The Spaniards tried in vain to fire non-existent castle, until their ship crashed on the rocks located close to the coast. Treasures that were collected from that ship can be seen today in the Ulster Museum in Belfast. Next - Megalithic Monuments of Stonehenge and Avebury