Landslide Photo Collections

Searchable USGS Photo and Multimedia Archive with Ordering Information

The October 2, 1978 Bluebird Canyon landslide in Orange CountyCalifornia cost, $52.7 million (2000 dollars) 60 houses destroyed or damaged. Unusually heavy rains in March of 1978 may have contributed to initiation of the landslide. Although the 1978 slide area was approximately 3.5 acres, it is suspected to be a portion of a larger, ancient landslide. A large, translational landslide, called the Laguna Beach, CA landslide occurred in June, 2005. This landslide severely damaged or destroyed 19 homes, and resulted in the evacuation of 345 homes. There were no serious injuries or loss of life. The 2005 landslide is located about 200 feet east of the 1978 Bluebird Canyon landslide

  • This photo shows one of the houses damaged by the 2005 Laguna Beach, California Landslide. The house experienced an undermining of the landslide but remained intact. Photo by Pam Irvine, California Geological Survey (CGS).
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  • Photo of damage from the 1978 Bluebird Canyon Landslide, Laguna Beach, California. This landslide had occurred right next to the site of the more recent 2005 Laguna Beach Landslide. Photo by Leighton and Associates.
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  • Photo of damage caused by a large, translational landslide, the Laguna Beach, California landslide which occurred in June, 2005. This landslide severely damaged or destroyed 19 homes, and resulted in the evacuation of 345 homes. There were no serious injuries or loss of life. The 2005 landslide is located about 200 feet east of the 1978 Bluebird Canyon landslide, which destroyed 24 homes on October 2, 1978. The 1978 Bluebird Canyon landslide was assessed for future hazards and in 1979, the homes were rebuilt. Photo by Jim Bowers, U.S. Geological Survey.
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  • Photo of the Laguna Beach, California Landslide, June, 2005. This landslide occurred due to record heavy rainfall in Southern California in the preceding months. It occurred next to the 1978 bluebird Canyon Landslide. Photos by Jim Bowers, USGS. For more information on this landslide, please see: http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/landslides/Laguna_Beach.htm.
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  • Photo of damage caused by a large, translational landslide, the Laguna Beach, California landslide which occurred in June, 2005. This landslide severely damaged or destroyed 19 homes, and resulted in the evacuation of 345 homes. There were no serious injuries or loss of life. The 2005 is located about 200 feet east of the 1978 Bluebird Canyon landslide, which destroyed 24 homes on October 2, 1978. The 1978 Bluebird Canyon landslide was assessed for future hazards in 1979, and the homes were rebuilt. Photo by Jim Bowers, U. S. Geological Survey.
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  • Photo of the Laguna Beach, California Landslide, which occurred in June, 2005. This landslide occurred due to record heavy rainfall in Southern California in the preceding months. It occurred next to the 1978 bluebird Canyon Landslide. Photos by Jim Bowers, USGS. For more information on this landslide, please see: http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/landslides/Laguna_Beach.htm.
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  • Photo of damage caused by a large, translational landslide, the Laguna Beach, California landslide which occurred in June, 2005. This landslide severely damaged or destroyed 19 homes, and resulted in the evacuation of 345 homes. There were no serious injuries or loss of life. The 2005 is located about 200 feet east of the 1978 Bluebird Canyon landslide, which destroyed 24 homes on October 2, 1978. The 1978 Bluebird Canyon landslide was assessed for future hazards and in 1979, the homes were rebuilt. Photo by Jim Bowers, U. S. Geological Survey.
    laguna1.jpg
  • Photo of the Laguna Beach, California Landslide, June, 2005. This landslide occurred due to record heavy rainfall in Southern California in the preceding months. It occurred next to the 1978 bluebird Canyon Landslide. Photos by Jim Bowers, U. S. Geological Survey. For more information on this landslide, please see: http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/landslides/Laguna_Beach.htm.
    laguna2b.jpg
  • Photo of the Laguna Beach, California Landslide, June, 2005. This landslide occurred due to record heavy rainfall in Southern California in the preceding months. It occurred next to the 1978 bluebird Canyon Landslide. Photos by Jim Bowers, U. S. Geological Survey. For more information on this landslide, please see: http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/landslides/Laguna_Beach.htm.
    laguna6.jpg
  • Photo of damage caused by a large, translational landslide, the Laguna Beach, California landslide which occurred in June, 2005. This landslide severely damaged or destroyed 19 homes, and resulted in the evacuation of 345 homes. There were no serious injuries or loss of life. The 2005 is located about 200 feet east of the 1978 Bluebird Canyon landslide, which destroyed 24 homes on October 2, 1978. The 1978 Bluebird Canyon landslide was asssessed for future hazards, and in 1979, the homes were rebuilt. Photo by Jim Bowers, USGS.
    laguna3.jpg
  • Photo of the Laguna Beach, California Landslide, June, 2005. This landslide occurred due to record heavy rainfall in Southern California in the preceding months. It occurred next to the 1978 bluebird Canyon Landslide. Photos by Jim Bowers, USGS. For more information on this landslide, please see: http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/landslides/Laguna_Beach.htm.
    laguna3b.jpg
  • Photo of the Laguna Beach, California Landslide, June, 2005. This landslide occurred due to record heavy rainfall in Southern California in the preceding months. It occurred next to the 1978 bluebird Canyon Landslide. Photos by Jim Bowers, USGS. For more information on this landslide, please see: http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/landslides/Laguna_Beach.htm.
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  • Photo of damage from the 1978 Bluebird Canyon Landslide, Laguna Beach, California. This landslide had occurred right next to the site of the more recent 2005 Laguna Beach Landslide. Photo by Leighton and Associates, California.
    bluebird2.jp...
  • Photo of the Laguna Beach, California Landslide, June, 2005. This landslide occurred due to record heavy rainfall in Southern California in the preceding months. It occurred next to the 1978 bluebird Canyon Landslide. Photos by Jim Bowers, U. S. Geological Survey. For more information on this landslide, please see: http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_hazards/landslides/Laguna_Beach.htm.
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