The Pitch Lake in Trinidad is one of the 3 natural asphalt/ tar reserves in the world. The others may be found in California and Venezuela.
It is located approximately 45 minutes south of San Fernando in an area known as La Brea, off the south western coast of Trinidad.
According to our tour guide, the area was discovered by Sir Walter Raleigh in the 1500's and he used the tar from the area to "patch" his ships.
The pitch is "mined" 2 times per day and is processed in nearby plant and then exported to make asphalt for road surfaces, batteries, etc. Although the tar is mined regularly the area naturally refills itself in a matter of hours.
The lake spew tar and water at the same time and the water is pumped from the lake on a regular basis.
Many view that bathing in the lake has therapeutic values. Our tour guide referred to it as "the fountain of youth". We could see the yellow sulphuric acid bubbling up to the surface in various spot. They believe that if you bathe and wash your hair in this water, skin aliments and dandruff problems would disappear.
The official our cost is TT$30/ US$5, so beware of unofficial tour guides who charge as much as US$25!
For additional information click:
http://www.trinidadlakeasphalt.com/the_pitch_lake_of_la_brea.html
The pitch is "mined" 2 times per day and is processed in nearby plant and then exported to make asphalt for road surfaces, batteries, etc. Although the tar is mined regularly the area naturally refills itself in a matter of hours.
The lake spew tar and water at the same time and the water is pumped from the lake on a regular basis.
Many view that bathing in the lake has therapeutic values. Our tour guide referred to it as "the fountain of youth". We could see the yellow sulphuric acid bubbling up to the surface in various spot. They believe that if you bathe and wash your hair in this water, skin aliments and dandruff problems would disappear.
The official our cost is TT$30/ US$5, so beware of unofficial tour guides who charge as much as US$25!
For additional information click:
http://www.trinidadlakeasphalt.com/the_pitch_lake_of_la_brea.html
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