Malpaso Creek
| Malpaso Creek | |
|---|---|
| Basin features | |
| River mouth | Little Malpaso Beach 36°28′53″N 121°56′17″W / 36.481395°N 121.938060°WCoordinates: 36°28′53″N 121°56′17″W / 36.481395°N 121.938060°W |
| Progression | Malpaso Creek → Pacific Ocean |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 4.25 mi (6.84 km) |
Malpaso Creek is a small, coastal stream 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Carmel in Monterey County, California, USA. It was seen at one time as the northern border of Big Sur in central coastal California.
The creek and its canyon also defines the northern border of Garrapata State Park. The mouth of the creek is located at Little Malpaso Beach where there is a small white sandy beach, tide pools, and a narrow cave. The American film actor, director, and producer Clint Eastwood has spent much of his life in this area and named his film company Malpaso Productions after the creek to the north of his 200-acre property on the former Victorine Ranch.
The translation of the creek's name, "bad step", or "bad crossing", was based on how difficult it was to cross the abrupt canyon before a bridge was built across it in 1935.
Located in the Carmel Highlands, immediately south of Yankee Point, Malpaso Creek forms the natural northern boundary of the Big Sur coast.
Beds of coarse sand and conglomerate containing coal occur in Malpaso Creek. The abandoned Malpaso Coal Mine (or Carmelo Coal Mine) is located on the creek's north bank.
The best known locality for Monterey pine is on the Monterey Peninsula, extending south as far as the creek. Local distribution of Pelvetiopsis arborescens occurs in the rocks near the creek, as does Rhodophysema elegans var. polystromatica. Callophyllis linearis occurs on rocks north of the creek, Gloiopeltis furcata and Callophyllis crenulata occur near the creek, Dictyota binghamiae occurs at the 1 foot (0.30 m) tide level near the creek, and Fucus distichus subspecies edentatus f. abbreviatus occurs in the creek's exposed areas.Cucumaria curata has been found in tidepools on exposed rock areas near the creek.
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Wikipedia