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The Sunken City, positioned along the Palos Verdes Fault in San Pedro, California, United States of America, was historically a thriving residential community in the early 20th century.
As a result of tectonic plate movements, a portion of the coastline sank below sea level.
Infamous for landslides triggered by heavy rains, coastal erosion led to the community’s condemnation and abandonment.
Fearing further destruction, the city government decided to condemn the land, compelling residents to leave.
Today, the Sunken City is renowned for its skeletal remains and ocean views.
Despite tragedy, the area now strives to balance accessibility with preservation, safeguarding its geological formations and historical significance as a cultural landmark.
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Contents
The Dynamic Role of the Palos Verdes Fault in Shaping the Region
The Sunken City owes its existence to the dynamic geological processes that have shaped California’s coastline over millions of years.
Positioned along the Palos Verdes Fault, a prominent fault line beneath the Pacific Ocean, the area is intricately connected to the complex network of tectonic plate boundaries that define the seismic landscape of the region.
Millions of years ago, the Pacific and North American tectonic plates began interacting, giving rise to intense geological activity.
During its zenith, the land movement on the Palos Verdes Fault reached an astonishing rate of 11 inches per day.
This movement uplifted land in some areas and caused subsidence in others.
Ultimately, the Sunken City emerged as a result of subsidence, with a portion of the coastline dropping due to the shifting plates.
Trespassing Risks and Consequences
Presently, the area, marked with “No Trespassing” signs, attracts individuals seeking adventure, but violators face fines and vehicle towing.
Weekly, the Los Angeles Fire Department rescues those who fall on unstable terrain. The local community reports trespassers swiftly due to safety concerns and ongoing issues, including break-ins, graffiti, loud parties, bonfires, assaults, and rapes.
Even though some people may have suggested sneaking in, be aware that getting caught comes with a $450 fine paid to the Los Angeles County Court.
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The History of the Sunken City’s Tragic Transformation
During the early 1900s, the Sunken City locale flourished as a residential community.
In 1929, landslides, triggered by heavy rains and coastal cliff destabilization, caused significant damage. Representatives of 35 out of the 39 affected lots had petitioned the city to buy their properties.
The crack widened throughout the 1930s and early 1940s. Believed halted in 1935, the bluff moved 1 inch per day by April 1940. Despite a 1941 earthquake appearing not to impact the slide, continuous rains widened the crack by 8 feet. In drier summer months, the gradual displacement of the land measured only 10 inches in two months.
Eventually, the crack engulfed 5 acres, causing breaks in gas and water lines. Most homes on the 600 block of Paseo Del Mar were evacuated and relocated before the collapse.
Multiple landslides in recent years caused significant damage to nearby highways. In 2011, a section near the White Point Nature Preserve crumbled, falling into the ocean. Approximately 4 miles west in Rancho Palos Verdes, an area spends around $500,000 annually to stabilize constantly shifting land.
The City of Los Angeles is in conflict, debating whether to allocate public funds for replacing the destroyed part of Paseo Del Mar at Sunken City or to preserve it as a memorial of the disaster.