London - If you were asked to name the wonders of the world, which would you choose?
The pyramids, the Great Wall, or the Taj Mahal perhaps.
But a natural rock formation in the UK has beaten all of these to a place in the top three wonders of the world, according to travel bible Lonely Planet.
The Giant’s Causeway is third on their list, after Victoria Falls in southern Africa and Ethiopia’s Great Rift Valley.
Located on the Northern Irish coast in County Antrim, the causeway consists of some 40 000 basalt columns up to 40ft tall.
The tops of the hexagonal columns form stepping stones that lead out from the cliff base and disappear under the sea.
The causeway was created by an ancient volcano – but Irish legend says it was built by a 54ft giant called Finn McCool.
He built a path to Scotland to challenge his rival Benandonner, but fled home when he caught sight of his foe’s great bulk. The story is told in Lonely Planet’s new book, which describes the top 50 wonders of the world, their history and significance.
Another British entry on the list is Stonehenge. The selections range from enigmas such as the Easter Island statues, to the ultra-modern islands of the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The Great Wall of China, the Pyramid of Giza and the Taj Mahal have their places too, of course. - Daily Mail