One of the effects of an earthquake, like the one described in the previous section, is a tsunami, a giant wave, and closer to the path, beside the convulsed rocks, we can see the evidence for an enormous wave sweeping across the area and ripping up the sand and mud from the seabed.

Watch Dr Mike Simms talk about these rocks

Tsunamis aren't like waves created by the wind that rhythmically roll onto a beach.

They travel at great speeds across an ocean with hardly any energy loss and are barely noticeable out at sea.

But as a tsunami leaves the deep water of the open ocean and travels into the shallower water near the coast, it behaves like a normal wave - only with a lot more muscle.

Shallow water slows the tsunami and its height grows and it pounds the coast and coastal waters with tremendous amounts of energy.

The destruction wrought by a tsunami caused a giant meteorite can only be imagined but here, in these rocks at Larne, is a reminder that one was unleashed 200m years ago

You can see ripples in the rock caused by the water sloshing back and forward in the aftermath of the tsunami.

As things calmed down the back and forward motion of the water produces ripples that are equally steep on either side.