Come Take a Tour of the Cliffs of Moher Quiz

Answer: The Princess Bride

Called the Cliffs of the Ruin, The Killer Cliffs, and the Cliffs of Insanity in the film, "The Princess Bride" (1987), whichever you choose to call them, one thing is for certain, they have been unchanged throughout the millennium. Over the centuries, layers of Namurian shale, siltstone and sandstone have formed the cliffs.

The oldest of the rock formations are at the bottom. River channels cutting through the base of the cliffs date back 300 million years. The origin of the name derived from a ruined promontory fort, Mothar, which was demolished during Napoleon's reign in Europe. "Sense and Sensibility"(1995), is a film based on the 1811 novel by Jane Austen. "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002), is based on a novel by J.K. Rowling. "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991), starred Kevin Costner as Robin and Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Answer: West

The Cliffs of Moher are situated in County of Clare, Republic of Ireland, on the western seaboard. On your tour, they are only a short distance south of Doolin, a colorful and charming little coastal village known for its traditional, authentic Irish music and merriment. Stretching for five miles (8 km) to Hag's Head, the astounding cliffs rise to a maximum height of 702 feet (214 meters) above icy blue waters. One million tourists, who are simply stunned when they marvel at the splendor of the surreal landscape, visit the Cliffs of Moher each year.

Answer: O'Brien's

Your tour includes O'Brien's Tower, which stands midway near the highest point of the cliffs. The round stone tower, built in 1835, was an observatory for tourists who visited the cliffs even at that date. Locals believe that Sir Cornelius O'Brien (1782-1857), a descendant of Ireland's King Brian Boru, built it to impress the Victorian women. Standing at the summit of the tower, the spectacular views let you become one with nature as you gaze out over the green meadows, grazing pastures, and the tranquility of the deep blue ocean.

As an additional benefit, you may hear the wild Irish wind whistling all around you.

Answer: The Twelve Pins

Depending on conditions, such as mist, fog, or a chilly, damp, horizontal rain, the weather is a tremendous factor in the visibility of what the cliff side essentially has to offer. The Twelve Pins, the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara, the lighthouse at Loop Head, the mountains of Kerry, and countless hills and valleys are seen for miles. You will find yourself speculating exactly where the ocean ends and the skies begin.

Saint's Patrick's Cathedral is located in Dublin Ireland on the east coast. It estimates 300,000 visitors per year. Glin Castle is the home of the 29th Knight of Glin, Desmond Fitzgerald. His castle stands on the banks of the river Shannon in Limerick, Ireland and has been in the family for over 700 years. Lastly, Waterford Crystal factory was founded in 1783 by two brothers, George and William Penrose. Famous for its exquisite and hand-made glass artisanship, their industry made the city of Waterford in the southeast of Ireland famous. Due to crushing taxes, the factory was forced to close in 1851.

Answer: Atlantic Puffin

The rock on the cliffs is home to 30,000 birds. An area established in 1989 is designated as a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA). Twenty-nine fascinating species flock there each year. To name a few are razorbills, hawks, ravens, gannets, kittiwakes, guillemot and chough.

The common seagull or fulmar, visits the cliffs in winter. Among the most popular is the Atlantic puffin, which is a small bird from the auk family. It is primarily black and white with a large beak in the colors red, yellow, and orange.

Answer: True

For a fee, your tour can consist of a boat cruise. Daily boat rides or catamarans allow tourists to observe the natural wonder of the cliffs from sea level. The sea stack, which stands slightly off from the cliffs, is called Branaunmore, standing over 70 meters above the white, frothy waves.

Some more astonishing sights you may encounter on your tour are wild-mountain goats, sharks, otters, seals, dolphins, and even humpback whales are known to break the surface of the ocean at times.

Answer: The Burren

An unspoiled region of just over 100 sq. miles (under 300 sq. km) is adjacent to the cliffs. Called "The Burren", it is a plateau pavement of rocky, hard limestone. Its jagged terrain and flourishing countryside is both a unique mystery and a botanical environment of exquisite, rare beauty. An abundance of plants thrives in the rocks and in between their cracks.

The multi-colored moths and butterflies decorate its charisma. Its natural history has been traced back 350 million years.

Answer: False

A safe, unenclosed walking trail is provided for tourists and their protection at the top edge for the entire length of the cliffs. There is a natural footpath at the edge with no safety barriers or guardrails. Signs in many languages are posted strictly forbidding anyone to walk this extremely dangerous pathway.

However, if forewarnings are disregarded, you walk or stand on it at your own risk. Mother Nature can never be predicted. The rock-strewn cliffs are not secure in some areas and sections sometimes give way. Sadly, some sightseers on the restricted edge have been swept off the cliffs to their death by powerful gale winds gusting in off the ocean. Quite a few fatalities transpire each year on these incredible cliffs, from accidental deaths, suicide, and/or murder.

There are many historical sites in the world commonly chosen to commit suicide, the Cliffs of Moher being one of them. Some heartrending tragedies have even been captured on film. Many lives have been saved by rangers who work chiefly as tourist guides by their intercession as people considered suicide.

It has been determined that victims who have fallen have suffered multiple, catastrophic injuries. Although rare, rockfalls have been a source of death for a few misfortunate people too. The Cliffs of Moher are to be respected. Although their shocking beauty is incredible to behold, their desolation holds a dark secret to death!

Answer: St. Brigid's Well

Entering through a gateway of an ancient iron fence is a stone well house called St. Brigid's Well. Ireland is known for having over 3,000 holy wells and people gather from all over to visit them. Long-time customs are continued to this day with ritualized worship by praying and leaving a variety of offerings on the walls of St. Brigid's Well. The most general practice at the wells is to tie a clootie (cloth strip) to a branch of a tree near the well, preferably an oak. It is believed that in these waters, visions can be seen. A bride may look into the well for good luck. The sacred rite commonly ends with washing, bathing, or drinking from the well for inspiration, wisdom, or healing.

Although St. Patrick's Well and Tobar Patraic are holy wells, they are not located near the Cliffs of Moher.

Answer: big-wave surfing

The crashing wave on the cliffs has become the world's popular destination for big-wave surfing and is notorious for being the best surfing conditions anywhere. On October 15, 2005, John McCarthy (Ireland), Rusty Long (California, USA), and Dave Blount (Great Britain) collectively, with their knowledge and skill, conquered the monumental wave for the first time. The wave named Aileen's (Aill Na Searrach) is a unique, oval-shaped tube, boasting mammoth waves at 35-40 feet (10-12 meters). Its colossal weight can kill if it falls on you. Since the three men braved the virgin surf, thousands of people now come from all over each year to face the uncertain, but adrenaline challenge of Aileen's wave.

I hope you enjoyed your tour of The Cliffs of Moher!