Wide view of natural volcanic rock formations with interlocking shapes at the Giant’s Causeway, in County Antrim on the coast of Northern Ireland

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The Giant's Causeway, with around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, is the result of a volcanic eruption during the Paleocene Epoch some 50 to 60 million years ago. The unique natural formation was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. The lava contracted as it cooled, cracking in a similar way to drying mud, with the fractures extending down through the mass, creating pillarlike structures. These stone columns also fractured horizontally into segments with a convex bottom face and concave top. Most of the columns are hexagonal, though some have four, five, seven or eight sides.

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Size: 6000px × 4000px
Location: Giant's Causeway, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Photo credit: © John Cumbow / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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