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Abalone Cove
Abalone Cove
Abalone Cove holds a rich cultural and natural heritage. Two promontories, Portuguese and Inspiration points, frame Sacred Cove which includes sea caves, black sand and rare plants and forms the Abalone Cove Reserve. It is part of the Tongva people’s ancestral homelands who for thousands of years relied on it’s abundant marine resources. Abalone Cove is a popular tourist destination for visitors and locals alike. The area is now managed by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy which has restored much of the habitat. Abalone Cove is a protected resource in the community, allowing for the natural and cultural resources to continue to thrive together.
Above the Cove on a Spring Day
When we were very young, my friends and I loved to explore and traverse the open fields high above the shoreline. At the side of a small knoll, a “dugout” extended maybe six feet or so into the hillside. My friend Bill told me he once found an Indian arrowhead there. We sat looking out to sea and imagined what it would be like to have been those Indians and see the first Spanish explorers sailing up the coast.
Abalone Cove, Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
Image shows view looking southwest across Abalone Cove, with Portuguese Point at left and Santa Catalina Island visible in the distance. Several figures are visible on the beach below the grassy coastal trails.
When the cove was quiet and the water still, we entered the ocean from the beach and snorkeled to the outer reef. If the water was not too murky, we saw a lot of underwater life along the reef’s edge. The water was deep at that point and we always had to be aware of where we were. If we weren’t paying attention, a rogue wave might come along and push us into the sharp crags of the rocks.
Portuguese Point, Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
Image shows view looking east across Abalone Cove toward Portuguese Point, below Long Point and above Portuguese Bend. The rocky shoreline along the calm tide pool waters is visible in the foreground. A cargo ship is visible in the distance.
