The Iron Zoo of Coalinga

Situated 190 miles south of San Jose, California, is the small town of Coalinga — a name derived by losing the middle term from “Coaling Station A” and joining the leftovers. This town of 15,000 is mainly an agricultural community with Chevron and Aera Energy operating the town’s only oil field. To reach Coalinga, you have to get off Interstate 5 and onto Highway 33. As you drive north towards the town, Coalinga’s oil field will come into view. You will see several oil pump jacks busy bobbing up and down doing their job. Now if you look closely, you will see animals — zebras, giraffes and horses— not the usual kind, but pump jacks painted as animals. Each rooted to its own spot, these iron animals merrily raise and lower their heads, as if grazing in the field.