On the small island of Staffa in Scotland is one of the most unusual caves in the world. It's not just her beauty, which she owes to her volcanic origin. It is known to many as the “cave of melodies”, once in which you will feel like in a gigantic natural cathedral and hear the real sounds of nature.
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Where is
It is located among many other cave systems on the tiny island of Staffa, off the Scottish coast. This cave is the largest among the others and the only one that can be entered inside. the rest are under water most of the time. However, in order to enjoy all the beauty of the cave, you will have to get off the boat (none of them will fall into a narrow crevice) and walk along a small path along the striking basalt columns.
History of occurrence
All this beauty appeared thanks to volcanic lava. Just imagine that she, called upon to destroy everything in her path, once created one of the most beautiful creations of nature. Perfectly shaped basalt columns form breathtaking steps that seem to have been created by the hands of ancient giants.
In fact, for hundreds of years, nature has been doing its best to create this extraordinary place: the rains mercilessly watered the basalt cliffs, the sea fiercely attacked them or, on the contrary, gently caressed them, creating new forms and caves. Fingal's cave became the top of their creation. Its length is almost 80 meters, height – 20, and width – 14 meters.
cave legends
Fingal's Cave has an older name Uamh-Binn. Translated into Russian, it means “cave of melodies.” Under its curved vault, like a dome, the sounds of the surf sound especially bewitching. And thanks to the extraordinary acoustics, it seems as if you are a guest at a magical performance that Nature holds only here and now.
The more modern name of the cave is known thanks to James MacPherson, this Scottish poet sang in his poems the ancient legend of the giant Fingal. According to the epic, Fingal built a dam to connect Ireland and Scotland. Once before a serious fight with a huge giant, Fingal lay down to rest. At this time, his rival walked along the causeway to his house, where the cunning wife of Fingal, pointing to her husband under the veil, said that this was their newborn baby. Thinking about what size the father of the child should then be, the giant rushed to run, destroying the newly built dam behind him. The island of Staffa is all that remains of this extraordinary bridge.
The beauty of this place lies not only in the cave itself and the sounds it generates. If you get inside, then you will have a bewitching view of the sacred island of Iona, which is known as the burial place of all the ancient Scottish kings, incl. and Macbeth. In addition, you will be able to observe the sea in full glory, which created such a miracle of nature.
Source of inspiration
The cave gained notoriety after it was discovered by the naturalist Sir Joseph Banks in 1772. He was so struck by the beauty and acoustics of this place that at different times it was visited by such famous figures of culture and politics as Jules Verne, Queen Victoria, Walter Scott and many others. Mentions of this miracle of nature can be found in a variety of works of art: music, literature, painting. For example, in one of Strindberg's famous works, this cave is the main setting for all events.
The well-known composer Mendelssohn wrote Overture 26, better known as “The Hebrides, or Fingal's Cave”, trying to describe the feeling that gripped him when visiting this place.
The British painter Joseph Turner created a landscape of Fingal's Cave in 1832. And these are not the only cases. Over the course of several centuries, violent waves breaking on hexagonal columns and giving birth to real music have served as a source of inspiration for a variety of creative personalities.
Best time to visit
The best time to admire this miracle of nature is spring. It was then that the previously lifeless reef tops would be covered with wild flowers and green. Different types of algae that live in the water on basalt columns acquire all colors from pale ruby to fabulous aquamarine. It was at this time that the cave of Fingal becomes especially mysterious and bewitching.
Sea water accumulates in the air and forms a thick fog that arises in the cave. Thanks to this extraordinary spectacle and the magical music of the surf, you get the feeling that you are at a unique concert in honor of nature and life itself – so changeable, but still extraordinarily beautiful.
The island of Staffa, despite being uninhabited, is rich in various species of birds and aquatic inhabitants. Various sea birds are found here. You can meet a real symbol of the sea – a free petrel. Gulls and long-nosed cormorants fly over the basalt columns. Friendly dolphins and gray seals live in the waters near the cave. All of them show that despite the inaccessibility of the island, he lives! And the sounds that are born in the depths of Fingal's cave are a reflection of the very life of the sea and all its inhabitants.
From year to year, tourists are attracted by the island of Staffa. It is impossible to forget this feeling when you stand in a resounding and black cave, below you the emerald waves crash into the rocks with noise. Basalt columns rush upwards like the vaults of the most perfect cathedral, and amazing and truly unique music arises around, which, reflected from the walls, goes into the boundless gray sea.