Overview

The Pitch Lake, located in La Brea in South Trinidad, is often referred to as one of the natural wonders of the world. Among the many legends attached to it, one relates the tale of an indigenous tribe that was engulfed as punishment for eating hummingbirds, in which the souls of their ancestors were believed to repose. It is estimated to be more than 5,000 years old and has produced close to 20 million tons of asphalt in the past 100 years. The asphalt from the lake is used in the paving of roads and for roofing. There is a small museum at the site.