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The Emerald Ile is often associated with fantastical legends, plenty of magic, and even a leprechaun or two. The landscape lends itself to tall tales, and the Giant’s Causeway is no exception. Located in Northern Ireland, the Causeway is a rocky cliff, with stones that step down gradually into the sea. However, it is the unusual shape of these stones that make the site unique. The basalt forms thousands of ordered columns, each composed of layered, generally hexagonal stones. The overall effect is more reminiscent of a man-made stack of garden pavers than something created by nature, and that simple fact has captured storytellers’ imaginations for centuries. The most popular legend says that the rocks are left over from a bridge built by giants to cross over into Scotland. A more mundane opinion is that the area was covered in thick lava many millennia ago, and as it cooled, it cracked at regular intervals. Regardless, the shoreline is unlike anything you are likely to see anywhere else, and it has been drawing tourists since the mid-1600s. In 1986, it was officially declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains a popular destination for travelers. It is certainly worth a bit of stair stepping to see it in its glory – just be careful not to get your feet wet!
