Tourists are being warned not to jam coins into the iconic Giant’s Causeway rocks as the practice is causing lasting damage to the 60-million-year-old formation.

Northern Ireland’s famed Giant’s Causeway is under threat from an unlikely source—coins. Tourists have been wedging coins between the rocks, causing them to rust, expand, and damage the natural formation. Experts from the National Trust and the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland say the metal is discolouring the ancient stones and causing them to crumble.

Despite being rooted in folklore and attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, the site now faces a £30,000 restoration effort to remove embedded coins. Signs are being placed to discourage the trend, which experts believe stems from copycat behavior. Authorities emphasize that removing the coins will help prevent both chemical and physical harm to the landmark.

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