The Arroyo Seco, which means “dry stream” in Spanish, is a trickling stream tributary in Los Angeles County, California. The region is considered the birthplace of Pasadena; in traditional narratives by the native San Gabriolino Indian tribe, it’s said that the sound its rapids make, akin to laughter, was the result of a wager made between the river and coyote spirits. As the myth goes, the coyote challenged the river to a race and ran as fast as he could, beating the river only to collapse shortly after from exhaustion. The river then roared by, laughing all the while.