Big Sur
View inland (east) from Route 1
Big Sur is a section of the California coast, typically considered to run from Carmel-by-the-Sea in the north to San Luis Obispo in the south. It is characterized by the collision of coastal mountain ranges, such as the Santa Lucia Range, with the Pacific Ocean. Throughout much of Big Sur, this produces dramatic sea cliffs and undersea kelp forests. The mountains squeeze most of the moisture out of the clouds, creating a favorable environment for forests, including the southernmost habitat of the famous coast redwood. Farther inland, the forests disappear and the vegetation becomes more scrubby.
History of Big Sur
The now extinct Esselen group of Native Americans lived in Big Sur prior to the Europeans. The first Europeans to see Big Sur were the Spanish conquistadores, who called it el Sur Grande, or the Big South. They built a series of missionss there, but otherwise took little interest. Under Americann rule, the prohibiting terrain kept settlers out, except for a few ranchers. It remains sparsely populated today, over six decades after the Pacific Coast Highway was put through with the use of New Deal funds and prison labor. The only two towns in Big Sur, excepting the relatively flat southern reaches, are Big Sur and Lucia. Most of the land along the coast is privately owned, but the vast Los Padres National Forest encompasses the inland portions, and there is a number of small state parks. The area is still quite inaccessible compared to many of California's other natural tourist attractions, but it has a low capacity for visitors and becomes very crowded during major vacation periods.
Big Sur has attracted and inspired a number of writers and artists. most notably Robinson Jeffers and Edward Weston.
View southwards along Route 1
California State Route 1 winds along the steep coastal mountain sides within sight of the Pacific Ocean of the Big Sur region, running south from San Francisco towards Losa Angeles. The highway has been superceeded by more modern highways further inland, but this largely two lane highway provides an excellent way for tourists and sightseers to visit and view the amazing landscapes of the Big Sur.
Tourism and the Big Sur
List of state parks in Big Sur (north to south)