Yahoo News 22 Jan 08;
The Giant's Causeway, the spectacular rock formation on the Northern Irish coast, could soon become difficult to access due to climate change, a report warned Tuesday.
The iconic world heritage site, one of the province's biggest tourist attractions, will be under threat if sea levels rise and storms worsen, said the National Trust conservation organisation, which owns and manages the site.
The report warned that the site was at risk from coastal erosion and flooding over this century.
"In the short term (2020) increasing storminess would require increasingly rigorous hazard management, while in the medium term (2050-2080) slope instability and cliff retreat increase," the report said.
Rising sea levels and greater peak surges on the Atlantic coast could significantly increase the area of Causeway stones washed by waves, it added.
"In the long term (2080-2100) there could be periods when winter access to the Causeway stones would be more difficult and different means of access may need to be explored."
The Giant's Causeway comprises around 40,000 interlocking mostly hexagonal basalt columns formed by volcanic activity. More than half a million tourists visit each year.
Celtic legend has it that the giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool) built the causeway as stepping stones across to Scotland in a challenge to a giant called Benandonner.
