Have you heard of a Glass Beach in California? The name is not a reference to the water there. It’s about the beach. This glass beach gets its name from the glass pebbles on the coast. Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it?
Let me break it down for you. Several decades ago, a part of the coast near Fort Bragg, California was a dumping ground that saw all kinds of items disposed by the side of the Pacific Ocean. Among all the junk were a large number of glass bottles — beer bottles and soda bottles, I’m guessing. And when the ocean went about its duty of cleaning the beaches, it seems to have taken a lot of these things into its deep waters. And then, listen to this — the waters of the Pacific, after a long time, of course, redeposited the glass, only this time — in the form of pebbles.
Want me to break it down further? All those beer and pop bottles were carried away from the Mendocino Coast with the ebb were broken down and polished by the Pacific and brought back to the beach with the flow. Think of the Ocean as a humungous rock-tumbler doing what it does best! Just like how it takes rocks and turns them into fine sand, here the water clearly tried taking the waste-glass, polishing them, and returning them to the land. How amazing is that?
A 2012 attempt to see Glass Beach
I’d first been here in 2012 when we were exploring the northwestern part of CA. We’d gone to see the Chandelier Tree better known as the Drive-thru’ tree in Legget, CA. Then we’d found a totem pole that they say is the tallest free-standing one and a house in a tree trunk, and after that, we’d hung out for a bit in the Fort Bragg area.
It was by chance that I read about Glass Beach while we were in Fort Bragg and we decided to go see it for ourselves. Our navigation system led us to the coast that was part of the area that had gotten some of those sea glass deposits. However, I had to comb the sand to see proof of the phenomenon. And in the end, I did see some but a very few of them.
The thing is that the area is not a dumping ground anymore. The coastal area was cleaned up a long time ago. And like it should be, it is forbidden to throw things around here, now. And I guess, a lot of the polished glass pieces got carried away by curious people as well as places that wanted to preserve a bit of this local history.
7 years later and more Sea Glass
Fast forward to the summer of 2019, when my bestie and family were visiting, we made a trip to this part of Mendocino County once again. And this time the maps led us to another part of the coast. It was a small beach, more like a little cove and I was thrilled to find more glass on the beach than I did the previous time. Better still, it was evening when we were there so as the sun made its way down, it seemed it hit the sea glass in neat angles that made them gleam in the evening sun.
While my company was busy playing in the cold waters of this beach in Northern California, I was busy trying to take as many pictures as I could, to take back with me. And here they are:
Also from the area — a natural coastal pool out on the rocks
The post after the 2012 trip –> A place to go Sea Glass hunting.
See also — More Pacific Coast Trip Ideas
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Fascinating indeed. Amazing are the ways of nature.
True that.
Thank you for visiting, Magiceye. 🙂
This is fascinating. I know people pay lots of money for these glass pieces. I’m surprised you didn’t pick a few pieces up to take home. They are truly fascinating when you find them. Wish I lived closer to ANY ocean.
The last time I went that side I didn’t get to see enough of these glass pebbles so it felt so wrong to take them. 🙂
Anyway, I’ve got pictures, this time, around. 😉
Thank you for stopping by, Elizabeth. 🙂
fascinating post.
🙂
Thank you, Klara. 🙂
Crazy. I´ll never get why people do dump things everywhere (though, look for a bin on the way here, you need to carry your rubbish for quite a while!)
Amazing how the ocean turns it into beauty…
Absolutely amazing how the ocean turns those broken bottles into a pretty colourful pebbles!
I’m so glad I saw more sea glass this time.
Thank you for stopping by, dear Iris. 🙂
That was an awesome sight and the lovely story of sea returning the bottles as glass pebbles:) Loved the pics too!
It is.
Fascinating, no?
Thank you so much, Mr. Bhatia. Stay well. 🙂
That is fascinating, but I am glad that they cleaned up the beach. Apart from the glass beach and area looks beautiful. When we can travel again, I would love to visit as it is not too far. Your photos are beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
-Soma
Absolutely!
It is a lovely area too. There’s this cool little natural pool out on those rocks out there. Look for it when you go. 🙂
https://www.facebook.com/TipsyFromTheTrip/photos/a.525642327487701/2525087224209858/?type=3&theater
Thank you so much. And thanks for visiting.
I hope you’ll be able to go see the beach soon. 🙂
Take care.
Wow, is the real?!
Hi Ashok,
Looks pretty unreal, no? 🙂
I saw “glass pebbles” in tropical country, but never went to California.
Such an awesome, phenomenon, right?
Now that you’ve visited this post, you’ve kind of seen the Glass Beach in California. 😉
The ocean is so full of wonders that we don’t understand. I’m glad you revisited the beach and found more glass. It looks like a wonderful place to see.
How terrific it is to see you at ‘My Corner of the World’ this week!! Thanks for linking up with us.
I’m glad I got to go back. I always wanted to, as I was not happy with what I saw the first time I was there. 🙂
Thank you so much for hosting, Betty. Sorry I’ve been gone for a couple of weeks. Will be back, soon. Thanks, again.
That is pretty amazing to find so many pebbles of glass along the beach. Beautiful area.
It is. It’s even more amazing when we think of how they are formed.
Thank you, Yvonne.
And welcome here. 🙂
Love such beaches! Pretty pebbles everywhere. Did you take back some?
Alle?
Illa, ‘I’ didn’t because I was disappointed that I was not able to see what I went to see, the last time I was there.
Nature never fails to mesmerize us with its creation! Beautiful captures!
Absolutely.
Thank you, Tony. 🙂
Its time we make this an individual responsibility to use products that can be recycled and you need not make dumping yards out of water bodies. Just wondering how you may have felt watching 7 years after looking at the change. 🙂
The pictures are very realistic.
When I went to the area the first time, I barely saw pebbles. I was disappointed that I didn’t get to see what I had come to see. This time although it was a different part of the beach that we at, it was oddly satisfying. 😁
Although it is discarded glass that we’re seeing here, it’s amazing to see how nature can turn it into so beautiful a thing. 😊
Nature works in mysterious ways!! I so want to see them!! They are gorgeous <3
Doesn’t it? I was amazed when I first heard the story.
Thank you for coming this way, Deepa. 🙂
Stunning, Amazing clicks.
It as a stunning sight indeed.
Thank you, Rupam. 🙂
Fascinating landscape…beautiful pics!
Hey Bikram, long time.
Oh yes, the phenomenon is so fascinating.
Thank you, Bikram. 🙂
That’s amazing indeed. I hope beer bottles and other bottles too find better disposal now.
Absolutely amazing.
Oh! yes. No more dumping goes on there.
Wow. Beautiful. Great shots
Hey Thanks, Abhisek. 🙂