San Andreas Fault
Palmdale, California
It doesn't have any official markings, signs, or parks dedicated to it, so it's easy to drive right past the San Andreas Fault if you're not paying attention. Laid bare by a roadcut for Highway 14 just south of Palmdale, the nation's most infamous fault — or at least part of it — is visible to the naked eye, with weird wave-like formations marking the place where the Pacific and North American plates violently come together. If you'd like to get a better view than the one afforded by your car window, we recommend parking at nearby Pelona Vista Park and walking back to the cut.
Photos: Ben W
