Nature Laughs Last At Glass Beach [38 PICS]

September 20th, 2011 Permalink

After man made a mess by dumping trash directly into the ocean, Mother Nature stepped in to turn the area into one of the most unique beaches you will ever see. What was once millions of old glass bottles have been broken down and rounded off by crashing waves and time. Glass Beach in MacKerricher State Park near Fort Bragg, California, is not covered with sand, but with millions of tiny colored pieces of glass. Oh yes, nature reclaimed the beach and definitely got the last laugh. [38 Photos]

Close-up view of the colored glass beads mixed in the sand at Glass Beach near Fort Bragg, CA

Close-up view of the colored glass beads mixed in the sand at Glass Beach near Fort Bragg, CA. The photographer noted, “Glass Beach is not an official park or attraction – there are no signs pointing the way to the shoreline.” He added, “In addition to the polished glass, Glass Beach provides an excellent point of access to the rocky northern California shoreline, with the furious waves crashing against the craggy outcrops.” Photo #1 by Matthew High

Fort Bragg - Glass Beach

Starting around 1949, the people of Fort Bragg used the area around this beach was a public dump. By 1967, authorities realized what a huge mistake that had been and planned another dump site away from the ocean. For the next 30 years, Mother Nature worked on the garbage, reclaiming it, rounding the sharp edges of glass and depositing the glass pebbles onto Glass Beach. Photo #2 by clr_flickr



Awesome Wave at Fort Bragg, CA

Awesome Wave at Fort Bragg, CA. Photo #3 by Isolino Ferreira

Beach of Sea Glass

The state parks department took over the 38-acre site in 2002, so that this beach of sea glass is now part of MacKerricher State Park. Photo #4 by Megan

Landscape shot of the coast near Glass Beach, Fort Bragg

Landscape shot of the coast near Glass Beach, Fort Bragg. Photo #5 by Frank Kovalchek

Good dog Cali at Glass Beach

“Good dog Cali” at Glass Beach. Photo #6 by Hotash

The Glass beach in Fort Bragg, California

The Glass beach in Fort Bragg, California. Photo #7 by Jef Poskanzer

Hunting pretty pieces as treasure at Glass Beach Fort Bragg

Although the state park brochure states that it’s illegal “to remove or harm plants, animals or other natural features” from Glass Beach, some folks must figure the glass pebbles are not actually a “natural” byproduct and hunt for pretty pieces as treasure. Photo #8 by Jef Poskanzer

Beautiful Nature at at MacKerricher State Park, CA

The coastline is wild and beautiful, with the environment flourishing with the healing power of nature at MacKerricher State Park, CA. Photo #9 by Josh Templet

'Born to be wild' at MacKerricher State Park, CA

“Born to be wild,” the photographer wrote. It’s hard to believe people used to dump all manner of household refuse, even old cars here. Photo #10 by Josh Templet

Sea Bat Stars, Morro Bay, CA - MacKerricher State Park

Sea Bat Stars are but one creature that make their homes in this changed environment. There are also crabs, mollusks, and many aquatic plants thriving in the area. Photo #11 by Mike Baird

Mendocino coast Fort Bragg

Mendocino coast – Fort Bragg. Photo #12 by clr_flickr

view from Sea Cave at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg

View from a sea cave at Glass Beach in Fort Bragg. Photo #13 by Megan

Stomping around on Glass Beach

There are several tidal pools for scavengers to stomp around on at Glass Beach. Photo #14 by Tom Hilton

The Ten Mile Haul Road runs north of Fort Bragg, though MacKerricher park

The Ten Mile Haul Road runs north of Fort Bragg, though MacKerricher State Park. Photo #15 by J.smith

Yellow poppies, wildflowers on the California coast, north of Fort Bragg

Yellow poppies, wildflowers on the California coast, north of Fort Bragg, and interesting rock formations offshore in the Pacific Ocean. Photo #16 by Wonderlane

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens Fort Bragg, CA

Mendocino Coast ‘Botanical Gardens’ and ruggedly beautiful coastline at Fort Bragg, CA. Photo #17 by Frank Fujimoto

Fort Bragg - MacKerricher State Park - Boardwalk

In the distance from Glass Beach, seagulls wheel and breakers crash on rocks. Photo #18 by clr_flickr

Glass and rocks on Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, CA

Rounded glass and rocky pebbles on Glass Beach. Visitors to the area say that every year there is a little less glass since so many people pocket the pretty pieces. Photo #19 by mamojo

MacKerricher State Park gulls

MacKerricher State Park gulls. Photo #20 by chanzi

Fort Bragg's Glass Beach

The entire cove is coated like this at Fort Bragg’s Glass Beach. Photo #21 by Jef Poskanzer

MacKerricher State Park - cormorants, and a pelican too

MacKerricher State Park – cormorants, and a pelican too. Photo #22 by Mike Carroll

Glass Beach is a fascinating place

Glass Beach is a fascinating place. Photo #23 by Zara Evens

Golden Sunset taken at the beach just north of MacKerricher State Park, north of Fort Bragg

Golden Sunset taken at the beach just north of MacKerricher State Park, north of Fort Bragg. Photo #24 by Images by John ‘K’

Glass Beach is a beach in MacKerricher State Park near Fort Bragg, Ca

Wonder how many thousands upon thousands of old glass bottles Mother Nature reclaimed and rounded off to create Glass Beach? Photo #25 by Þorgerður Olafsdottir

Glass Beach Sunset

Glass Beach at sunset. Photo #26 by Hotash

environmental healing power of nature at glass beach

Environmental healing power of nature, taking ‘trash’ and converting it into a beautiful Glass Beach. Photo #27 by jawshouamoua

Dogs having fun on the glass

Dogs having fun on the glass. Photo #28 by Megan

Looking out over Glass Beach

Looking out over Glass Beach. Photo #29 by Gone-Walkabout

sand from glass

Not many people will experience this sort of “sand,” but there are supposed to be similar such garbage-to-beaches in Benicia, California, Guantanamo and Hanapepe, Hawaii. Photo #30 by Adam Hally

Glass in the Sunlight

Glass in the Sunlight. Photo #31 by Megan

Glass Beach has a remarkable density of polished sea glass due to a history of dumping garbage into the sea in northern Fort Bragg

The photographer wrote, “Glass Beach has a remarkable density of polished sea glass due to a history of dumping garbage into the sea in northern Fort Bragg. Way to go, Fort Bragg. Though not strictly natural, I must say this is some really interesting and beautiful sand.” Photo #32 by Mouser Williams

big red glass on Glass Beach

That’s a fairly huge haul of red glass from the unique beach. 😉 Photo #33 by Aaron Spielman

people picking through shiny glass

People picking through shiny treasures. Photo #34 by Yoav Lerman

flowers at glass beach

Flowers with Glass Beach in the background. Photo #35 by entitee

glass beach rocks

Nature wins with the last laugh at this beach. Photo #36 by Brendan Riley

Close-up of the glass beads mixed in the gravel at Glass Beach outside Fort Bragg, CA

Close-up of the glass beads mixed in the gravel. Photo #37 by Matthew High



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