What happens when people dispose of their waste in the most irresponsible way, try to clean it up, until it all gets a bit too hard, then when they can’t think of any other way to repair the damage, they close up and move on? OK, maybe I’m being a bit harsh, but I’m filing this one under “what the hell were they thinking until it becomes wow that is just too spectacular for words”.
I am a beach glass collector. I like to find it, feel it, decorate sandcastles with it and then leave it for the next person to enjoy. I rarely take it home with me unless it is quite spectacular or the Drama Queen insists. I love its smoothness, the way that time and energy have ground down all the sharp bits to make something soft and subtle. I really like the blue ones, though they are really hard to find.
I think I would be in beach glass meltdown if I ever manage to visit Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, California. In the early part of the 20th century the residents of Fort Bragg disposed of their waste by hurling it off the cliffs onto the beach below. No object was too big, too toxic or too much. Household appliances, cars, trash all were tossed over the cliffs until the 1960’s when attempts were made to clean up the dump. Despite clean up attempts, nothing could be done about the masses of glass that remained on the beach. This is the result, a now protected altered beach landscape.
Pity it took such a gross act of human laziness to make something so beautiful. What do you think?
Sam
drawnoutdoors 
That was great inspiration….. nice to know you
Reblogged this on Zarifekirimli's Blog and commented:
Amazing !
I think it’s beautiful, but also very sad that it came about through littering. I never knew about this beach before. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I have the same mixed feelings. I’m amazed at some of the places I stumble across while “researching” on the net!
Unbelievable! It just proves how amazing nature is…
I agree, the fact that something so horrendous can turn into something quite gorgeous is just amazing.
I think this is a beautiful beach too, created under less than mindful conditions. Why people do this to such lovely beaches is beyond me. Glad it was cleaned up and the glass beach is like art. I love your images here.
I wish I could take credit for the images, would love to see the beach in person, but a bit too far from the other side of the world! It always amazes me what people do without realising the consequences.