Giant's Causeway removes 20kg of coins wedged in rocks to prevent erosion

Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway has been suffering damage due to the longstanding tourist habit of pressing coins into its iconic rock formations. The National Trust recently extracted more than 20 kilograms of coins from the site to curb further deterioration. Experts explained that the oxidisation of embedded coins was causing the ancient basalt columns to crumble and break apart. In response, authorities have introduced informational signage and dedicated donation boxes to redirect visitor contributions. The measures aim to preserve the UNESCO World Heritage site while still allowing tourists to show appreciation for the landmark.