The Cliffs of Moher rise 214 metres above the Atlantic at their highest point, a continuous rampart of Namurian shale and sandstone stretching eight kilometres along the Clare coast. Formed 320 million years ago when river deltas compressed into layered rock, the cliffs became Europe's edge when the last ice age retreated and sea levels rose to carve the current profile. O'Brien's Tower, the stone observation post built in 1835 by local landlord Cornelius O'Brien, marks the midpoint where visitors first comprehend the vertical scale. The site receives 1.5 million annual visitors, making it Ireland's most-visited natural attraction and the anchor of the Wild Atlantic Way touring route. UNESCO designated the cliffs and surrounding Burren region a Global Geopark in 2011, recognizing both the geological sequence and the terrestrial habitats that shelter 20 seabird species during nesting season. Razorbills, guillemots, and puffins occupy ledges from March through August, while peregrine falcons hunt the updrafts year-round. The cliffs appear in multiple film productions, including a 2009 fantasy adaptation that required helicopter access to the northern headlands. Most cliffs of moher cruise from dublin tours depart before 07:00 and follow the N7 and M18 motorways southwest for three hours, stopping in the Burren's karst limestone plateau before reaching the visitor centre at Liscannor. The Atlantic boat cruise typically launches from Doolin pier, four kilometres north, where rigid inflatables navigate the cliff base for 40 minutes when sea conditions allow. Operators cancel departures if swell exceeds two metres or wind surpasses force six. The cliff-top pathway extends 18 kilometres from Hag's Head to Dooonagore Castle, though the central two-kilometre section between the visitor centre and O'Brien's Tower accommodates 95 percent of foot traffic. The underground visitor centre, opened in 2007 and built into the hillside to preserve sightlines, houses geological exhibits, a 4D cinema, and the conservation office that manages the site's UNESCO obligations. The €10 conservation fee funds habitat restoration and path maintenance across the 70-hectare protected zone. Evening light between May and September casts the cliff faces in amber and extends visibility west to the Aran Islands and the Twelve Bens mountain range in Connemara.