Latest news with #naturalwonder
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Fury at tourists damaging Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway by forcing COINS into cracks causing columns to 'crumble' - as National Trust pleas for end to padlock-style trend
Attracting legions of tourists every year, it is one of the world's most intriguing rock formations. The Giant's Causeway, on the northern coast of Northern Ireland, was formed around 60million years ago. But now, the volcanic formation is under threat - thanks to a scourge of tourists jamming coins between its stones, often for reasons of love or luck. The National Trust, which cares for the feature, has issued a plea to visitors to stop the damaging trend, which is similar to the fixing of padlocks to monuments such as Paris's Pont des Arts bridge. When the coins rust they expand to three times their original thickness and put 'huge pressure' on the surrounding rock, causing it to 'crumble', Trust expert Dr Cliff Henry said. The bill to remove the coins, which are also leaving reddish rust stains behind, is expected to be more than £30,000. Dr Henry, the National Trust's nature engagement officer at the Causeway, said: 'We know that visitors really love and cherish the Giant's Causeway, and many form deep personal connections to this special landscape. '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 found that the coins are having a detrimental effect on the basalt rock, both aesthetically and physically. Dr Henry added: '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.' The coins left behind are mostly from UK visitors but are also from Europe, the USA, Far East and elsewhere. In 10 test locations, the National Trust employed specialists to remove as many coins as possible without causing further damage. The trial was successful so it is hoped all the remaining coins will also soon be removed. Since 1992, 'copper' coins in the UK have had a steel core with just a thin layer of copper on the outside. Five, 10 and 20 pence pieces are nickel-plated steel. When the coin begins to corrode, the steel corrodes more quickly than the other metals and so separates. The delamination causes the surrounding basalt to 'flake', Dr Henry said. '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,' he added. '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 Giant's Causeway was created by an outpouring of basalt lava 60million years ago, when the North Atlantic was opening up. Local legend gives the more exciting explanation that mythical giant Finn McCool created a causeway to get across the Irish Sea to fight his rival, the Scottish bruiser Benandonner. But his rival then tore up most of the causeway to prevent Finn from getting to Scotland. Another legend says that Finn built the causeway so he could meet a Scottish maid he was enamoured with. What is the Giant's Causeway? Giant's Causeway takes up about four miles of the coast of Northern Ireland. About 40,000 stone pillars make up the tourist attraction, and these pillars typically include five to seven sides. According to Britannica, the site was formed 50 to 60 million years ago. It was formed during the Paleogene Period and was the result of lava creeping toward the coast but cooling after making contact with the sea. Giant's Causeway was first recorded in 1693, and it has been a point of intrigue for geologists. It is managed by the National Trust, Britain's leading heritage and conservation charity. In 1986 the Causeway became a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the protected area is home to about 50 species of birds and upwards of 200 plant species.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Air crew makes exciting 'once-in-a-lifetime' discovery in Aussie outback
An Australian pilot and tour guide has captured what she describes as a "once-in-a-lifetime" natural event — watching the headwaters of Cooper Creek slowly snake through the Strzelecki Desert on their way to Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, transforming one of the driest corners of the continent into a temporary oasis. "It's just such a rare sight, only the people who book these air tours can see it. It's an extremely remote area of extremely dry conditions," Talia, an outback pilot who operates air tours from Birdsville in Queensland, said. "They call it a 'dry flood' because there's been no local rainfall in that area at all... so to see this lifeblood of water descending, trickling through the desert and knowing what it's going to leave behind — the greenery along the floodplain — it's just a once-in-a-lifetime, spectacular opportunity. "You feel very privileged to see the rare sight that it is." The footage, taken from 1,000 feet above, shows the creeping edge of water making its slow, deliberate way through country that hasn't seen a flow like this in more than a decade. "The Cooper Creek has been able to enter Lake Eyre [before], but that doesn't happen very often at all," she said. "This is the most significant time, certainly in the last 15 years." Located in South Australia's arid heart, Lake Eyre is the lowest natural point on the Australian continent. Most of the time, it's a white salt flat. But when enough water reaches it, fed by distant rivers like Cooper Creek, the Diamantina, and Georgina, the basin transforms into Australia's largest lake, drawing birds, wildlife and awe-struck visitors. "The lake will be close to 100 per cent [surface] coverage, which we've not seen since probably 2010–11," Talia, from Birdsville Aviation, said. "But this year, it's set to be even deeper than it was then. So it's super exciting." The water currently making its way through Cooper Creek originated hundreds of kilometres away in Queensland towns such as Winton, Longreach, and even Mount Isa. "So all the water has come from the northeastern reaches of the catchment area... It's fanned in this big arc through the whole top of all those catchments," she explained. "The Lake Eyre Basin catchment area — it takes up one sixth of Australia — it's massive. It's 1.1 million square kilometres." Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre is filling for just the fourth time in the past 160 years. This year's flood is the result of a record-breaking convergence of rainfall across all three of the Lake Eyre Basin's major catchments — something not seen since 2010–11, and possibly longer. "All three of them have been concurrently in a record-breaking flood," she said. "The Cooper Creek has broken records at Durham Downs Station. In 1974, the flood record was 4.4 metres high, and this year it was 4.75 metres. So that is a significant rise on record," Talia said. Flying from Birdsville to Innamincka and across the floodplain, following the water's path, felt like an act of discovery, she said. "Even with modern technology and satellite imagery, you can't get a clear enough picture... so you feel like you're almost pioneering, tracing the length of the river to find that water," she said. Rush to see rare Aussie phenomenon sparks warning Phenomenon not seen in 50 years set to create 'inland sea' Tourists face ban at iconic attraction over 'sacred' nature For ecologists and landowners alike, the significance of this event cannot be overstated. "For station owners… they really rely on fresh inflows through the Channel Country," she said. "Cattle stations only really survive in these areas when there are these occasional floods. For the people situated on the banks of these floodplains, it just means they can sustain their livelihood." "And for ecologists, it's also extremely important," she added. "Birdlife comes out and are able to rebuild their populations again… which they don't do in drought years. So it's really important for the whole ecosystem." Talia said the conditions have never been better for visitors. "We're all open and showing lots of tourists through," she said. "The roads are in incredible condition… and it's the best year for coming out and visiting these areas. It looks just spectacular." Reflecting on the moment she flew above, Talia said it was the inaccessibility of the landscape that struck her most. "You know that creek bed hasn't seen water for 15 years — how incredible to see it trickling through." Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
