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Fingal's Cave, Scotland

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Fingal's Cave, Scotland. Off the western coast of Scotland, and easily reached now by excursion steamers, Nature has placed one of her greatest marvels, namely, the island of Staffa, rising in barren grandeur from the ocean and looking like an enormous table supported by innumerable columns, which rest upon a floor of lapis lazuli. It is only about a mile in circumference, yet its perpendicular cliffs present a grand appearance, reaching at certain points an elevation of 140 feet, and honey-combed with wave-worn caverns lined with innumerable fluted columns, which in some instances curve outward, as though to more successfully oppose their breasts to the tremendous surges of the sea. The largest of these openings is Fingal's Cave. It is an awe-inspiring place to visit, though when the sea is rough it is impossible to enter it. Its curving roof is nearly 100 feet above the waves, and in calm weather travellers may go in boats far into the heart of the cliff along that pillared vestibule 230 feet in length. At the extreme end of this magnificent cavern is a kind of natural throne, imposing enough to suggest the kingly seat of Neptune himself, and from this the view outward through this avenue of columns, whose pavement is the sea, is beautiful beyond description. When a storm is raging on this coast the scene at Fingal's Cave is said to be sublime. The force of the stupendous billows hurled against these cliffs is then appalling, and the incessant roar emerging from this mighty cavern can be heard for miles. This is indeed a solemn Minster of the sea, wrought ages since by Nature's architect, and Ocean's anthems have resounded here in majesty long before Egypt reared her pyramids or ever human eyes beheld its grand proportions and listened to its awful symphonies. From a Portfolio of Photographs (Werner, c 1890).
CaptionFingal's Cave, Scotland. Off the western coast of Scotland, and easily reached now by excursion steamers, Nature has placed one of her greatest marvels, namely, the island of Staffa, rising in barren grandeur from the ocean and looking like an enormous table supported by innumerable columns, which rest upon a floor of lapis lazuli. It is only about a mile in circumference, yet its perpendicular cliffs present a grand appearance, reaching at certain points an elevation of 140 feet, and honey-combed with wave-worn caverns lined with innumerable fluted columns, which in some instances curve outward, as though to more successfully oppose their breasts to the tremendous surges of the sea. The largest of these openings is Fingal's Cave. It is an awe-inspiring place to visit, though when the sea is rough it is impossible to enter it. Its curving roof is nearly 100 feet above the waves, and in calm weather travellers may go in boats far into the heart of the cliff along that pillared vestibule 230 feet in length. At the extreme end of this magnificent cavern is a kind of natural throne, imposing enough to suggest the kingly seat of Neptune himself, and from this the view outward through this avenue of columns, whose pavement is the sea, is beautiful beyond description. When a storm is raging on this coast the scene at Fingal's Cave is said to be sublime. The force of the stupendous billows hurled against these cliffs is then appalling, and the incessant roar emerging from this mighty cavern can be heard for miles. This is indeed a solemn Minster of the sea, wrought ages since by Nature's architect, and Ocean's anthems have resounded here in majesty long before Egypt reared her pyramids or ever human eyes beheld its grand proportions and listened to its awful symphonies. From a Portfolio of Photographs (Werner, c 1890).
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