The Trona Pinnacles are recognized from more than a dozen hit movies, and over thirty film projects a year are shot among the tufa pinnacles, including backdrops for car commercials and science fiction movies such as Star Trek V, The Gate II, and Planet of the Apes. The northern tufa cluster has another distinction as well: the 200 pinnacles in this group are designated a National Natural Landmark. Their unique features have made the Trona Pinnacles a frequent setting for commercials and films.