so, apparently california is (well, used to be) naturally rich in petroleum, that was so close to the surface that you could just stick your hand in the ground to reach it.

these photos are from 1910 - 1955, California, USA.

cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/35897819

source: https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/oil-derricks-california-old-photos/

(Oil derricks line a road outside Los Angeles. 1930.)

there's many more pics on that website

There's a mini-doc about one California family: https://youtu.be/0WPzFnZkZmI

I had heard about this, but didn't expect them to be so dense. It's a literal hellscape metal forest.

Must...construct...additional...pylons...

WARNING: This product beach contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

In any kind of story something that big and obviously evil would cause some sort of cosmic retribution, like a planet wide climate collapse or something. Thank goodness this is real life.

They're still drilling for oil in CA, even in Los Angeles. Now though, they hide the oil rigs inside fake buildings.

But, but…. The good old days!

Man, if only all that oil in LA could come out the spigot as diesel

iirc most of them were made of wood, because it's cheaper.