At the foot of the basaltic cliffs along the sea coast at the edge of the Antrim Plateau in Northern Ireland, the Giant's Causeway is made up of some 40,000 massive black columns sticking out of the sea. The dramatic sight has inspired legends of giants striding over the sea to Scotland. The study of these formations by geologists for 300 years has greatly contributed to the development of the earth sciences, and shown that this striking landscape was caused by volcanic activities during the Tertiary Period some 50-60 million years ago.

For further information visit the national trust webiste www.nationaltrust.org.uk