La Brea Tar Pits
| La Brea Tar Pits | |
|---|---|
Methane gas bubble emerging at La Brea Tar Pits (2004) | |
| Location | Hancock Park, Los Angeles, US |
| Coordinates | 34°03′46″N 118°21′22″W / 34.0628°N 118.356°W |
| Official website | |
| Official name | Hancock Park La Brea |
| Reference no. | 170 |
| Designated | 1964 |
La Brea Tar Pits comprise an active paleontological research site in urban Los Angeles. Hancock Park was formed around a group of tar pits where natural asphalt (also called asphaltum, bitumen, or pitch; brea in Spanish) has seeped up from the ground for tens of thousands of years. Over many centuries, the bones of trapped animals have been preserved. The George C. Page Museum is dedicated to researching the tar pits and displaying specimens from the animals that died there. "La Brea Tar Pits" is a registered National Natural Landmark.