La Brea Tar Pits

La Brea Tar Pits
Methane gas bubble emerging at La Brea Tar Pits (2004)
Location in Los Angeles Show map of the Los Angeles metropolitan area La Brea Tar Pits (California) Show map of California La Brea Tar Pits (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Hancock Park, Los Angeles, US
Coordinates	34°03′46″N 118°21′22″W / 34.0628°N 118.356°W / 34.0628; -118.356
Official website
California Historical Landmark
Official name	Hancock Park La Brea[1]
Reference no.	170
U.S. National Natural Landmark
Designated	1964

The La Brea Tar Pits is 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.