This place looks like a cliff. Why is it so black? and whats with the road going right up the cliff?
seems like some data (elevation) mapping error maybe?

The black spot is an error. Maybe a spot on the film...

the dark zone look normal cuz its the hill shadow, don't it ?
sooo its true a road can be so high

The Images I have of the area show it in shadow, but I don't know why the shadow wraps all the wat around the point.
These images are looking south, part of my modest Then and Now Hobby

http://home.comcast.net/~geomoto/devilsslide600w.jpg

Thats the shadow of a cloud

i think the dark spot is just the shadow of the ridge. there is a narrow staircase there that leads to two double iron doors set in the face of the cliff. don't know what it is, an old military bunker perhaps?

Looks like a unique sort of censorship. What do others think?

Here are some images of what it should look like. The image in GE was shot at an oblique angle rather than from straight overhead so that the north side of the ridge is emphasized and the south side reduced. If you look closely you can see how the WW 1 era observation tower on the top leans way over to the south in the GE image. It makes more sense if you turn "terrain" off since that data is in error there too.

www.californiacoastline.org is a great resource for exploring the California coast.

Hi geomoto - your linked photos are great. I haven't seen those particular images before. Usually, I'm too busy driving over the Devil everyday!

Diane

Hi Price -

It is awfully extreme looking ...but, there's nothing there to censor. Maybe a few gophers and hawks waiting to catch them, coastal vegetation being overrun by non-native Pampas grass, rocks, lizards...and so on.

Oh - and that's ME driving to work!

Diane