What is the black gooey stuff on the sand at the beach?
The black, thick deposits that we often see on the beach and floating on the ocean are caused by a naturally-occurring seepage from the ocean bottom called tar. The tar rises to the surface of the ocean and is carried ashore by currents, tides and wind. Geologists believe this tar seepage has been occurring for thousands of years. Read more about Mother Nature’s Oil Wells — including information about tar, its origin and its history in the region.
