Moss Landing Power Plant

Moss Landing Power Plant and its twin smokestacks rising through coastal fog above the harbor, with kayakers on the water.

The Moss Landing Power Plant has been a prominent landmark along California’s Monterey Bay coastline since electricity generation began at the site in 1950. Its towering smokestacks and sprawling industrial structures create a striking contrast with the surrounding wetlands, harbor, and natural beauty of the central coast. In this photograph, coastal fog partially obscures the smokestacks while kayakers paddle across the calm water, capturing the unusual coexistence of industry, recreation, and nature that characterizes Moss Landing.