Basalt columns of the Giants Causeway Coast.

Iceland

Columnar basalt formations along Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach in Iceland

Bazaltzuilen

Photos from our weekend in Northern Ireland Sept 2017

Svartifoss (or Black Falls) in Iceland's Skaftafell National Park is a 20 meter waterfall known for its surrounding hexagonal basalt columns--a geological formation that inspired the architecture of Hallgrímskirkja (or Church of Hallgrímur) in Reykjavík.

Processed with VSCOcam with hb1 preset

Allyson Brooke Conley - Giant's Causeway- an area of 40,000 interlocking basalt columns resulting from an ancient volcanic eruption. Northern Ireland

UNESCO World Heritage Site seen on a rather vicious day. There are said to be approx. 40,000 interlocking basalt columns here, but my guess is that many are hidden within the cliffs.

It is of course linked the the legend of Fionn mac Cumhaill, and Fingal's Cave on Staffa in Scotland, but I won't explore the feasibility here.

I suspect it is also the site of many accidents, with people climbing all over it in wet and slippery conditions. Basalt is not a soft landing.

14Apr2026

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

You can listen to the "Hebrides Overture" while browsing these images.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrides_Overture

The Giant's Causeway is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland. There are 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption.

Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Iceland (10/3/16)

Wonderful basalt columns. A volcano's work.

The scary ghost in the red jacket is supposed to be me.

Skaftafell national park.

View from the clifftop on the Isle of Staffa.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA