La Brea - Pitch Lake 
|
|
On the southwest tip of Trinidad is one of the world's few open pitch lakes from which this ingredient of asphalt has been mined and exported since 1859. Since the late 1800s, Trinidadian pitch has found its way into the streets of America, England, India, Singapore and even Japan, to name a few.
Visitors to the site walk across the fairly solid skin of the lake, but must do so with a guide since several areas are too soft to support people.
The attraction embodies the uniqueness, strange beauty and oddities of this environment. Sections of pitch move slowly simulating the same type of plate tectonics as the earth's surface. Sections wrinkle and the boundaries between them collect water where guppy-like fish live. The pitch is liquid enough to level scars caused by mining activity after a few days.
Some areas vent bubbling sulfur or even sea water. Logs hundreds of years old float to the surface perfectly preserved.
Visitors to the site walk across the fairly solid skin of the lake, but must do so with a guide since several areas are too soft to support people.
The attraction embodies the uniqueness, strange beauty and oddities of this environment. Sections of pitch move slowly simulating the same type of plate tectonics as the earth's surface. Sections wrinkle and the boundaries between them collect water where guppy-like fish live. The pitch is liquid enough to level scars caused by mining activity after a few days.
Some areas vent bubbling sulfur or even sea water. Logs hundreds of years old float to the surface perfectly preserved.
Read More
Read Less
Address:
Pitch Lake Tour Guide Association, La Brea, Trinidad , Trinidad and Tobago
Hours:
9am-5pm
Tips: 6-12 $12
under 6 free.
In the rainy season, the pitch can be covered by several feet of water.
Read More
