Torrey Pines eolianite cliffs

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve preserves coastal cliffs composed largely of Pleistocene-era eolianite (cemented dune sands) that have been wind- and wave-sculpted into unusual shapes and terraces. The cliffs and exposed sandy beds contain fossilized marine shells and other Pleistocene fossils that are periodically revealed by erosion. Ongoing wave action and episodic landslides continue to reshape the shoreline, producing sea caves and vertical rock faces.