Latest news with #BritishGeologicalSurvey
Gizmodo
4 days ago
- General
- Gizmodo
Stop Shoving Coins Into the Giant's Causeway
From Parisian bridges to Rome's Trevi Fountain, tourists love leaving behind mementos—but in Northern Ireland, they're eroding a 60-million-year-old landmark. Almost 60 million years ago, a series of natural events—including volcanic eruptions, erosion, glacial movement, and sea level rise—created Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway: a coastal area made of over 40,000 hexagonal basalt stone pillars. Today it is a world-renowned tourist destination, and the hundreds of thousands of yearly visitors are leaving their mark—but not in a good way. In a recent statement, the conservation charity National Trust is appealing to visitors to stop wedging coins between the Giant's Causeway's basalt rock columns. The coins are corroding and physically damaging the World Heritage Site, and as such, accelerating natural erosion processes, according to a report by the British Geological Survey. From countless padlocks on Parisian bridges to coins tossed into Rome's Trevi Fountain each year, tourists seem obsessed with the idea of leaving something behind at iconic landmarks. But while the Catholic charity Caritas collected $1.52 million in 2022 from the Trevi fountain, the National Trust and its partners will have to spend over $40,000 to remove coins from the Giant's Causeway. 'We know some may want to leave a token of their visit, but the coins are causing damage and we are urging people to stop the practice and to leave no trace so this natural wonder remains special for future generations,' Cliff Henry, National Trust Nature Engagement Officer at the Giant's Causeway, said in the statement. 'The coins are rusting, and expanding to three times their original thickness, which puts huge pressure on the surrounding rock causing it to crumble. Unsightly streaks of copper, nickel and iron oxides are also staining the stones where the coins are corroding.' The report found coins from around the world lodged in difficult-to-reach places, suggesting visitors put themselves at risk in the process. It also highlights, however, that people don't seem to be aware that their actions are damaging to the site. 'There is demonstrable evidence that the practice of inserting coins into the joints and other fractures of the Giant's Causeway is having a detrimental impact on the constituent basalt rock, both physically and aesthetically,' reads the British Geological Survey report. 'The processes associated with the degradation of the coins are seemingly accelerating the break-up of the Causeway rock mass that occurs naturally through physical and chemical weathering.' According to legend, an Irish giant named Finn McCool (yes, that was his last name) built a causeway across the Irish Sea in order to fight with a Scottish giant, who subsequently destroyed it as he fled back to his homeland. Another myth, however, has it that the Irish giant actually built the causeway to reach a woman he'd fallen in love with. Either way, I doubt McCool would have appreciated his masterpiece falling to ruins in the hands of tourists.
Irish Post
4 days ago
- Irish Post
Coins left by tourists causing significant damage to Giant's Causeway
COINS left by tourists at one of Northern Ireland's most popular beauty spots are causing significant damage to the site. Made up of more than 40,000 basalt columns, the Giant's Causeway was designated Northern Ireland's first Unesco World Heritage Site in 1986. Visitors have been lodging coins into the basalt formations at the Giant's Causeway in Co. Antrim for over 40 years. Some of the coins left behind at the Giant's Causeway The practice has become significantly more widespread in the past decade, a spokesperson for the attraction has confirmed, with tourists, inspired by the sight of existing coins, inserting their own into the natural joints and fractures of the stones. 'As these coins corrode, they expand, leading to damage and staining of the rock surface,' they explained. The National Trust, which manages the site, said the cost of removing the coins could be as much as £30k and has urged visitors to stop the practice in order to protect the famous landmark. 'We know that visitors really love and cherish the Giant's Causeway, and many form deep personal connections to this special landscape," Dr Cliff Henry, National Trust Nature Engagement Officer at the Giant's Causeway, said. The Giant's Causeway in Co. Antrim was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 "We know some may want to leave a token of their visit, but the coins are causing damage and we are urging people to stop the practice and to leave no trace so this natural wonder remains special for future generations.' A report by the British Geological Survey in 2023 concluded that the coins wedged into the joints and cracks in the rock is having a detrimental impact on the basalt rock of the Giant's Causeway, both aesthetically and physically. 'The report has found that fracturing and disintegration of the basalt rock adjacent to joints and cracks into which coins have been inserted is the result of the 'expansive delamination of the coins upon oxidation'," Dr Henry, explained. 'In other words, the coins are rusting, and expanding to three times their original thickness, which puts huge pressure on the surrounding rock causing it to crumble. "Unsightly streaks of copper, nickel and iron oxides are also staining the stones where the coins are corroding.' In response to the survey a trial coin removal was conducted by Cliveden Conservation in February 2024. Building on the success of this trial, and with funding from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), a pilot conservation project was further commissioned in the summer of 2024 by the National Trust and the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust, on behalf of the WHS Steering Group. Between January and March 2025 stone conservation specialists CONSARC and The Rock Stone Masonry carried out detailed mapping and surveying of the site and carefully removed coins from test areas. In total nine kilograms of coins were removed from the stones and a second phase of coin removal is due to take place this autumn. The National Trust is now appealing to visitors to help these efforts by not adding any more coins at the site. 'It is hoped that if visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice the problem can be solved," Dr Henry said. 'We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive," he added. "We are appealing to visitors to help us protect the World Heritage Site by stopping the practice of inserting coins into the Causeway stones.' See More: Antrim, Coins, Damage, Giant's Causeway, National Trust
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
‘We're urging people to stop' – Tourists ‘damaging' popular Irish beauty spot warned over €35k bill from coins in cracks
THE National Trust in Co Antrim is urging for tourists to stop destroying a popular beauty spot by jamming coins into the cracks. The Giant's Causeway is being damaged by 3 Visitors are sticking coins into the cracks in the rocks at the Giants Causeway Credit: Getty Images - Getty 3 It will cost more than €35,748 to remove all the coins Credit: RTE They have been wedged into the cracks of the basalt rock columns at the World Heritage Site. The When the coins rust, they expand - therefore putting pressure on the surrounding rock. This causes it to strain and eventually crumble. READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS According to the Tourists are being urged to stop leaving coins at the site to stop the destruction of the rocks. Dr Cliff Henry, National Trust nature engagement officer at the He said: "We know that visitors really love and cherish the Giant's Causeway, and many form deep personal connections to this special landscape. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN "We know some may want to leave a token of their Jetski Romeo breaks finger after being flattened by monster wave while taking selfie at Giant's Causeway in Belfast The British Geological Survey released a report that concluded that the coins put into the joints and cracks in the rock have a detrimental impact. The impact on the basalt rock is both aesthetic and physical. Dr Henry continued: "The report has found that fracturing and disintegration of the basalt rock adjacent to joints and cracks into which coins have been inserted is the result of the 'expansive delamination of the coins upon oxidation'. "In other words, the coins are rusting, and expanding to three times their original thickness, which puts huge pressure on the surrounding rock causing it to crumble. "Unsightly streaks of copper, nickel and iron oxides are also staining the stones where the coins are corroding." 'STOP THE DAMAGING PRACTICE' The National Trust, partnered with Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust have hired specialists in stone conservation to remove as many of the coins as possible without causing further damage at ten test locations. Dr Henry explained: "It is hoped that if visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice the problem can be solved. "Many coins have a centre of one metal, with a thin coating of another. UK 'copper' coins, since 1992, have a steel core with only a thin layer of copper on the outside, while five, 10 and 20 pence pieces are nickel-plated steel. "When coins start to corrode, the steel often corrodes faster and separates from the different metal of the outer layer. This delamination causes the basalt to flake. "The coins here also have accelerated corrosion because they are often soaked in saltwater spray and the mixture of metals means they break down faster. "We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive. "We are appealing to visitors to help us protect the World Heritage Site by stopping the practice of inserting coins into the Causeway stones." 3 The coins rust and then expand, damaging the rocks Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Irish Independent
Visitors unwittingly damaging Giant's Causeway by sticking coins between the rocks
Coins have been left wedged into the basalt rock columns at the popular spot in north Co Antrim. Reflecting the broad spectrum of visitors to the attraction, the coins range from euro to sterling to dollars and currencies from the Far East. However, with time the coins rust and expand, putting pressure on the surrounding rock, staining it and causing it to crumble. The UK's National Trust said the removal of the coins was expected to cost more than £30,000 (€36,000) and has urged visitors to stop. Dr Cliff Henry, the National Trust nature engagement officer at the Causeway, said visitors should leave no trace behind them. 'We know that visitors really love and cherish the Giant's Causeway, and many form deep personal connections to this special landscape,' he said. 'We know some may want to leave a token of their visit, but the coins are causing damage and we are urging people to stop the practice and to leave no trace so this natural wonder remains special for future generations.' He cited a report by the British Geological Survey that concludes the coins wedged into the joints and cracks in the rock are having a detrimental impact on the basalt, both aesthetically and physically. 'The report has found that fracturing and disintegration of the basalt rock adjacent to joints and cracks into which coins have been inserted is the result of the 'expansive delamination of the coins upon oxidation',' he said. 'In other words, the coins are rusting and expanding to three times their original thickness, which puts huge pressure on the surrounding rock, causing it to crumble. ADVERTISEMENT 'Unsightly streaks of copper, nickel and iron oxides are also staining the stones where the coins are corroding.' The National Trust, in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust, employed specialists in stone conservation to remove as many of the coins as they could without causing further damage on 10 test locations. They hope to go on to remove all the remaining coins, and have appealed to visitors not to leave any more. The coins have accelerated corrosion because they are often soaked in saltwater spray and the mixture of metals means they break down faster Mr Henry said: 'It is hoped that if visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice, the problem can be solved. 'Many coins have a centre of one metal, with a thin coating of another. When coins start to corrode, the steel often corrodes faster and separates from the different metal of the outer layer. This delamination causes the basalt to flake. 'The coins here also have accelerated corrosion because they are often soaked in saltwater spray and the mixture of metals means they break down faster. 'We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive. We are appealing to visitors to help us protect the world heritage site by stopping the practice of inserting coins into the Causeway stones.' The National Trust protects and cares for more than 40,000 columns at the Causeway, which is Northern Ireland's first Unesco world heritage site.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Foreigners told to stop jamming coins in Giant's Causeway
The National Trust has told tourists to stop jamming coins into the Giant's Causeway over damage to the columns. Visitors have long wedged coins into the cracks of the basalt rock formations at Northern Ireland's World Heritage Site in north Antrim. The coins, which range from pounds and euros to American dollars and currency from the Far East, go on to rust and expand, putting pressure on the surrounding rock, staining it and causing it to crumble. Dr Cliff Henry, National Trust nature engagement officer at the Giant's Causeway, has urged visitors to leave no trace at the site. 'We know that visitors really love and cherish the Giant's Causeway, and many form deep personal connections to this special landscape,' he said. 'We know some may want to leave a token of their visit, but the coins are causing damage and we are urging people to stop the practice and to leave no trace so this natural wonder remains special for future generations.' Dr Henry, citing a report by the British Geological Survey, said coins had been fracturing the basalt rock through 'expansive delamination of the coins upon oxidation'. 'In other words, the coins are rusting and expanding to three times their original thickness, which puts huge pressure on the surrounding rock, causing it to crumble,' he said. 'Unsightly streaks of copper, nickel and iron oxides are also staining the stones where the coins are corroding.' Dr Henry said the salt water caused the coins to corrode faster, separating the coin's steel core from its outer layer. Since 1992, UK 'copper' coins have a steel core with a thin layer of copper on the outside, while five, 10 and 20 pence pieces are nickel-plated steel. The National Trust, in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust, employed specialists in stone conservation to remove as many of the coins as they could without causing further damage on ten test locations. The organisation, which looks after more than 40,000 columns at the site, said the removal of the coins was expected to cost over £30,000. The trust hopes to remove all the remaining coins and has appealed to visitors not to leave any more. Visitors have crammed coins into the cracks over many years, likely out of superstition for health or luck, to make a wish akin to tossing a coin into a fountain, or to leave a memento similar to the sentiment of leaving a padlock on a bridge. In Paris, local authorities have outlawed attaching padlocks to the Pont des Arts bridge after part of the bridge collapsed in 2014. The National Trust said the ritual had become more common over the past decade. 'It is hoped that if visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice, the problem can be solved,' Mr Henry said.. 'We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive. We are appealing to visitors to help us protect the World Heritage Site by stopping the practice of inserting coins into the Causeway stones.' Although folklore suggests the Causeway was built by the Irish giant Finn McCool to cross the North Channel to Scotland, geologists believe the hexagonal columns were created by an outpouring of lava 60 million years ago while Europe was tearing away from North America. Last year, the Giant's Causeway had about 684,000 visits. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
