Carpenteria Oil Seeps
Posted by: 
TerryDad2
N 34° 23.240 W 119° 30.831
11S E 268883 N 3807968
The tar pits and oil seeps at Carpenteria State Beach are part of a series of oil producing areas along the California Coast. Oil has naturally migrated to the surface in this area creating oil seeps, asphaltium, and at one time tar pits.
Waymark Code: WM1BRY
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 03/27/2007
Views: 98
In this area, the oil has found natural paths to the surface. In the Pleistocene, tar pits similar to the La Brea Tar Pits existed in the area. Scientific excavations have recovered a collection of fossils that rivals the Rancho La Brea collection. The collection includes mammal, bird, insect, and marine invertebrate remains. Birds are the most common animal found with over 57 different species including the California Condor and Golden Eagle
Unlike the collection from La Brea, a large number of fossil plants have been collected from Carpenteria. Ferns, redwoods, pines, and oaks are among the plant fossils. Some of these species require a cooler and moister climate than what is currently found in Southern California indicating that at some time during the Pleistocene, the climate of Southern California was not as hot and was wetter.
Today you specimens are continuing to be trapped in the tar. Sea shells are layered in the large blocks of asphaltium just seaward of the lifeguard headquarters. In other areas where the oil continues to seep from cliffs, wave rounded rocks, seaweed, and shells continue to be trapped in the sticky tar.
These tar deposits were used by the Native Americans for waterproofing. In the 1920s, these pits were mined for road building. Then the open pits were used as a dump.
Waymark is confirmed to be publicly accessible: yes
Parking Coordinates: Not Listed
Access fee (In local currency): Not Listed
Requires a high clearance vehicle to visit.: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:
No specific requirements, just have fun visiting the waymark.