One of Ireland’s most exciting and mysterious landmarks is the Giant’s Causeway. Certain legends depict the origins, however volcanic processes are in fact the culprit. About 62 million years ago during the Tertiary period, three different lava flows covered the territory that is now Giant’s Causeway. This particular flow is known as a basalt flow because they cover a large area and are very thick. Another example of a basalt flow is the Antrim Plateau in Northern Ireland. These benefit the people living around them because it attracts tourists to the area.
Information taken from: http://www.northantrim.com/Causewayguide.htm, http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/geography/physical_landscape.html
A second interesting fact that many people do not know about Ireland is the fact that the island was once in two different pieces. About 450 million years ago the southern half of the island was located in the region that is now North America, and the northern half was on another plate. Over time Earth’s tectonic plates move and eventually the two plates that are now Ireland collided.
Tectonic Plates
images taken from google images
Information taken from: http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/environment-geography/physical-landscape/Irelands-physical-landsca/the-formation-of-the-phys/ireland-and-plate-tectoni/
