by The huge curve in Northern Ireland attracts almost a million visitors a year, but their habit of being linked to tiny coins in cracks between the rocks-to bring love or happiness-the world-famous miracle.
Now the authorities ask the tourists to keep their coins in their pockets in order to preserve the spectacular landscape.
Around 40,000 pillars mark the Causeway, Northern Ireland’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Geologists say that the natural phenomenon was created 60 million years ago by an output of Basalt Lava.
Legend says that the curve was formed by the Irish giant Finn McCool.
In the past few decades, visitors have brought thousands of coins into the rocks into the rocks.
The gesture is “a sign of love or happiness,” said Cliff Henry, the damm’s nature remuneration officer.
But the coins quickly corrode and expand, which causes the basalt and left “unsightly” rust -colored stripes, Henry told AFP.
He pointed on strips on a rock and appreciated a US cent with one set of key.
“We get many euros and dollars cent. But coins from all over the world – every currency you can imagine had it here,” he said.
A report by the British Geological Survey in 2021 showed that the coins “caused severe damage” and something had to be done about it.
The signs are now available at the construction site, the tourists appeal to “leave no trace”.
– ‘desperate’ – –
“As soon as some visitors see that other people have done it, they feel that they have to add it,” Joan Kennedy, Causeway Tour Guide, told AFP.
You and your colleagues now tell tourists gently but firmly that they should deviate.
At the outcome of the Causeway, a US couple said that it was “desperate” to hear about the damage caused by the metal.
“Our guide mentioned when we appeared that people had put coins on the stones. It is really terrible to hear,” said Robert Lewis, a 75-year-old from Florida.
“It is like damaging any kind of nature if they do something like this and bring something strange into nature. It is not good,” said his wife Geri, 70.
As part of a maintenance project of 30,000 GBP ($ 40,000), Stone Mason recently removed as many coins as they could – without causing further damage – of 10 test points around the dam.
Henry said the process was successful and is to be expanded via the dam.
“If we have all these coins removed to start with it, the situation will help and hopefully no more coins will be used,” he said.
“When visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop harmful practice, the problem may be solved.
“We know that visitors love and appreciate the curve of the giant, and many form deep personal connections. We want this natural miracle to stay special for future generations.”
PMU/JJ/GIL
