This image is actually a poster hanging in the museum at the Pitch Lake. It captures the different densities of the pitch quite well. You can walk on it or you can sink into it like quick sand. You certainly don’t want to sink in it as it is reportedly about 250 feet deep.
My visitors from England and I booked a tour with Island Experiences that picked us up at their hotel. On the way, we stopped at Chaguanas Farmers Market which was most interesting. Our guide pointed out the many unusual vegetables that our islands are blessed with, and we got a sample of Indian sweets. It was a long drive down to La Brea and the midday sun was blistering hot when we arrived. So our guide recommended that we not actually venture out on to the Pitch Lake which has no shade whatsoever.
We were assigned an approved guide who explained the history of the area and how the lake is very much lower than it was originally, because of the extraction of asphalt for over a hundred and seventy years. The Pitch Lake is the largest natural deposit of asphalt in the world, estimated to contain 10 million tons.
The black lake is not pretty but it is fascinating and unique. This is the largest and most significant pitch lake in the world. It covers about 100 acres and creeps under the surrounding land, causing roads to subside and undulate as fast as they are repaired. There are areas where you can see sulphur bubbling up through the pockets of water. Sometimes, there are pools of rain water deep enough to swim in. You do need a guide to tell you where it is safe to walk.
Luckily, the museum on the site was open and that’s a must-see. It was interesting to read about the lake and what it is used for. It is famously known to have produced the pitch for the paving in front of Buckingham Palace, for instance. There were also samples of what has regurgitated from its depths over time. As I said before, you don’t want to sink into that lake! Here is a virtual tour of the museum http://caribbeanhistoryarchives.blogspot.com/2020/05/welcome-to-virtual-museum-of-pitch-lake.html.
Afterwards, we were tired and sleepy but grateful for the roti stop on the highway back to Port of Spain. I highly recommend the food at Hi-Way Roti Shop right on the Solomon Hochoy Highway. We also managed a visit to the 85 feet tall statue of the Hindu deity Lord Hanuman and its adjoining ashram, as well as The Temple in the Sea nearby. A long day, but very worthwhile.
