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Big Sur Research Paper

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A Haven of Remote Beauty Completely Cutoff by Mother Nature, Once Again [What is Big Sur] Mother Nature’s relentless assault on California over the past five years, with historic drought immediately usurped by two unabatingly wet winters, has been well documented. Total infrastructure repairs are estimated to exceed one billion dollars after this winter alone. But in one remote and stunningly beautiful hamlet exhibiting all of California’s most iconic natural beauty, a sense of déjà vu and isolation of yesteryear takes hold of its residents. Big Sur, California, situated roughly midway between San Francisco’s hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley and the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, is perhaps best known for its perch along California’s famed Highway One, where the sky, sea and majestic mountains coalesce. Almost universally, those who live here do so in large part for their appreciation and love of the unshakable tranquility, proximity to a bountiful natural paradise with resplendent coastlines, and a sense of isolation. …show more content…

A community which at times has a push-pull relationship with it’s vital tourism industry, has been essentially cutoff from the outside world, once again, rendering those who live here with both great challenges and the sense of a return to a bygone era. With a natural barrier of rugged mountains to the east, California Highway One is the only real way to access this small seaside community. When unceasing rains rendered the Pfeiffer Bridge to the immediate north of Big Sur impassable this winter, it presented challenges. When subsequent landslides to the south reshaped the landscape and took a huge section of Highway One into the Pacific Ocean, it vaulted residents and business owners here into yet another period of isolation from the rest of the world. [Map of the landslides and aerial video of the Mud

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