McKittrick Tar Pits, Natural asphalt lakes in Kern County, California, US
The McKittrick Tar Pits are natural asphalt lakes in Kern County that form a series of dark surface pools near Highway 58. These seeps occur where crude oil rises to the surface and solidifies into tar-like deposits.
The site attracted paleontologists in the 1920s who discovered bones of extinct animals trapped in the asphalt. The natural preservation allowed scientists to study ancient animal communities that lived in the region.
The Yokuts Native American communities used the natural asphalt from these pits for waterproofing materials and established trade networks with neighboring groups.
The tar pits sit alongside Highway 58 west of Bakersfield and are visible from the road. Access is straightforward since you can view the sites directly from the roadside.
The tar pits contain fossils dating between 26,850 and 11,160 years old, preserved in natural asphalt formed from oil reaching the surface.
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