Raider Crater, California

One of many gravel pits in the Irwindale area, east of Los Angeles, this one became known as Raider Crater when the professional football team called the Raiders entered into a deal with the city of Irwindale to build a stadium inside the pit (the fact that the pit was located immediately next to the West Coast's only Miller Beer brewery, while convenient, seems to have not been a factor in the deal). Negotiations fell apart, and the Raiders left with $10 million of the City's incentive money, eventually becoming the Oakland Raiders. This is one of over a dozen major pits in Irwindale. Most of the land in the city is below grade, having been excavated for use as aggregate for roads and building projects throughout the Los Angeles area.