Tourists urged to cease inserting coins into Giant's Causeway, as requested by heritage organization.
Preventing Damage at the Giant's Causeway: Stop Inserting Coins
Visitors to the renowned tourist attraction, the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, are being encouraged to refrain from the widespread practice of wedging coins into the site's distinctive stones. The National Trust, the UK's heritage caretaker, has launched an initiative to end this tradition as the coins rapidly corrupt and expand, causing damage to the basalt rock columns at the site in County Antrim.
According to a statement published by the National Trust on Wednesday, the coins are inflicting damage upon the rock. Cliff Henry, the Nature Engagement Officer at the Giant's Causeway for the National Trust, stated, "We are appealing to visitors to help us protect the World Heritage Site by stopping the practice of inserting coins into the Causeway stones."
Henry went on to explain that the practice is causing physical and aesthetic harm to the columns, with the coins' oxidation resulting in fracturing and disintegration of the rock adjacent to joints and cracks. This process, known as 'expansive delamination,' causes the coins to rust and expand to three times their original thickness, exerting immense pressure on the surrounding rock and causing it to crumble. Furthermore, the coins' corrosion leaves behind unsightly streaks of copper, nickel, and iron oxides.
In response, the National Trust has deployed stone conservation experts to assess whether the coins can be removed without causing additional harm. Although a successful extraction method has been found, the process is costly, with an estimated £30,000 needed for complete removal. Due to these expenses, the National Trust is urging visitors to discontinue adding coins to the issue and preserving this natural wonder for future generations.
Similar attempts to preserve other UNESCO World Heritage Sites from tourist-caused damage have surfaced recently. For instance, officials in Bruges, Belgium, have implored visitors to refrain from stealing cobblestones from their historic medieval streets. Over 50 to 70 cobblestones disappear each month, even more during peak season, and their replacement costs €200 per square meter, in addition to repair expenses[ENH1]. Local politician Franky Demon iterated, "While some may see this as harmless or quirky, the consequences are serious."
The Giant's Causeway remains a popular destination, hosting over 684,000 visitors in 2024. With this influx of tourists, it is crucial to educate visitors on the importance of respecting natural heritage sites and adopting a "leave no trace" policy. By doing so, tourists can help ensure the preservation of these wonders for future generations to enjoy.
- Visitors are being encouraged to preserve the aesthetics of the home-and-garden-like rock formations at the Giant's Causeway, as the coins inflicted upon them cause unsightly streaks of copper, nickel, and iron oxides.
- travellers exploring the Giant's Causeway can contribute to the conservation of this lifestyle destination by adopting a "leave no trace" policy, ceasing the practice of inserting coins into the site's distinctive stones, and respecting the natural heritage for future generations to enjoy.
