!!!Ireland's Atlantic Coast
Photos by Sergey Semenov
member of the [AirPano Team|Geography/About/Consortium/AirPano,_Team] that is a member of the [global-geography Consortium|Geography/About/Consortium]. \\

14 August 2019

with kind permission of [AirPano|http://www.AirPano.com]

Atlantic Coast of Northern Ireland, UK

Ireland is the third-largest island in Europe. Politically, it is
divided between two states: Ireland in the south and the United Kingdom
in the north. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful places in
the world with its emerald green meadows, severe mountains, crystal
clear lakes and the picturesque coast that are glorified in poetry,
cinema, music and other arts.

[{Image src='01_Ireland.jpg' caption='Giant´s Causeway\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='434'}]

New AirPano panoramas will make you acquainted with this wonderful
corner of the earth. Although it is impossible to show all the natural
and historical landmarks of Northern Ireland, even several chosen places
will fully reveal the grandeur of the local landscapes.

[{Image src='02_Ireland.jpg' caption='Giant´s Causeway\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='618'}]

One of the best-known places is the Giant's Causeway. It is the area of
about 40,000 interlocking basalt and andesite columns up to 12 meters
high. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some
with four, five, seven or eight sides.

[{Image src='03_ireland.jpg' caption='Giant´s Causeway\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='514'}]

The columns were formed as the result of an ancient volcanic fissure
eruption. But locals tell their own story. According to legend, the
Celtic mythical hero giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool) decided to
fight the one-eyed monster Benandonner, but he did not want to get his
feet wet, so he built a bridge in the Irish Sea. While he was having
rest, the enemy got close to him, but Fionn's wife saved him. Having
pointed at her sleeping husband, she lied that it was her baby. She also
treated Benandonner to flatbreads with iron pans inside them, so that he
broke his teeth on them. To her husband, however, she gave a normal
flatbread so he ate it with pleasure. Having imagined the power of the
father of this "child", Benandonner fled in horror and partially
destroyed the bridge that eventually became the Giant's Causeway.

In 1986, this place was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has
become a national nature reserve.

[{Image src='04_Ireland.jpg' caption='Giant´s Causeway\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='785'}]

Another famous Irish bridge is Carrick-a-Rede stretching at a height of
30 meters. It links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrick. The
bridge spans 20 meters with a width of only 1 meter making it swing at a
faint breath of wind.

Its creation does not connect to mythology, but it reflects the history
of these lands. The first rope bridge was built in the middle of the
17th century by fishermen so that during the salmon season in between
June and September they could easily reach the island. But they had to
rebuild it every single year as the ropes were getting rotten. Centuries
later, very few salmon had left so now the fishing is over. But a modern
version of the bridge was built as a tourist attraction. It was created
using high endurance ropes and water-resistant wood, so it can carry the
weight of up to 10,000 tons and cost 16,000 pounds.

[{Image src='05_Ireland.jpg' caption='Above the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='600'}]

All this area is marked with outstanding natural beauty. There are huge
caves that served as houses for boat builders and as a refuge during
storms. And Carrick island itself is a good example of the volcanic
activity in Northern Ireland, as it was a part of the ancient volcano.

The village of Carnlough is of great interest, too. It is located on the
coast of Carnlough Bay, in the north-eastern part of the island
surrounded by majestic mountains, forests and waterfalls. Its ancient
harbour attracts yachts that, in their turn, add some charm to the
landscape.

[{Image src='06_Ireland.jpg' caption='Carnlough\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='566'}]

The name of the village means "place of cairns": there is a lot of
silicon in this area and the first people settled here 6,000 years BC.
The long history of Carnlough is linked to Vikings and Scottish
warriors. One of the local hotels was owned by Winston Churchill and
this area served as a scene for Game of Thrones series.

The series creators also paid attention to another Irish village named
Cushendun and being one of the top-10 most beautiful villages of
Northern Ireland. This village is relatively young: at the beginning of
the 20th century, it was designed by the famous British architect Clough
Williams-Ellis. He was guided by the heritage of the Cornish people, who
are a Celtic ethnic group native to, or associated with Cornwall and
have created their unique architectural style. In 1980, the whole
village with the surroundings was designated as a conservation area.

[{Image src='07_Ireland.jpg' caption='Above the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge\\© [AirPano|https://www.AirPano.com]' alt='' width='900' popup='false' height='615'}]

Get acquainted with Northern Ireland and its natural and cultural
treasure!

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[11 panoramas of Ireland's Atlantic Coast |Geography/Europe/Ireland/Pictures/Ireland_s_Atlantic_Coast ]

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