Visitors' use of collectible coins creates significant issues at a renowned landmark bridge location
In Northern Ireland, efforts are being made to protect the iconic Giant's Causeway, a cherished UNESCO World Heritage Site and a natural wonder that attracts close to one million visitors annually. The site, consisting of some 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, has been the subject of concern due to the damaging practice of tourists inserting coins into the rock formations.
Cliff Henry, the causeway's nature engagement officer, has been at the forefront of addressing this issue. He stated that removing the coins will help prevent further damage, and a conservation project with a budget of approximately £30,000 (around $40,000) has been implemented. As part of this project, stone masons have removed coins from 10 test sites around the Giant's Causeway, totaling 30,000 pounds.
The trial to remove coins from the Giant Causeway has been successful and is planned to be expanded across the entire site. Visitors have been urged to keep coins in their pockets to preserve the natural beauty of the causeway. Signs have been placed around the site urging tourists to "leave no trace," and tour guides and staff gently but firmly ask visitors to stop inserting coins.
Joan Kennedy, a tour guide at the Giant Causeway, mentioned that some visitors feel compelled to push coins into fissures after seeing others do so. However, authorities aim to discourage this behavior by raising awareness of its harmful effects. The coins rapidly corrode and expand, causing the basalt to flake and leaving rust-colored streaks.
Preserving the Giant's Causeway for future generations is of utmost importance to authorities. Cliff Henry stated that coins from various currencies have been found at the site, often placed as tokens of love or luck. He expressed distress upon finding a U.S. cent lodged in a rock at the Giant Causeway.
In a report in 2021 by the British Geological Survey, coins were found to be causing "serious damage" to the Giant Causeway. Together, the measures being taken, including visitor appeals and signage, conservation projects to remove coins, and public engagement and education, aim to mitigate the ongoing damage caused by coin insertion and maintain the Giant's Causeway as a cherished natural wonder.
Learning from the environmental-science perspective, conserving the Giant's Causeway extends beyond its physical preservation. Lifestyle choices such as keeping coins in pockets during visits contribute to the protection of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, allowing visitors to embrace a more sustainable travel approach while appreciating the marvels of scientific wonders like the giant basalt columns.
