La Brea Pitch Lake

Every country has distinct and unique features that sets it apart from the rest of the world, the Pitch Lake in Trinidad can be described an outlier of natural phenomenons. It is located at Labrea in southwest Trinidad and is the largest natural deposit of asphalt in the world. Known to many as the 8th wonder of the world, one of only three in known existence, and holds approximately 10 million tonnes of asphalt. The lake is the major supplier of asphalt to the international market covers about 40 hectares and is reported to be 75 meters deep in the center. Tar from the Pitch Lake in Trinidad has been used to provide high grade road surfaces in over 50 countries worldwide including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, India, Egypt and Japan.

The Pitch Lake was discovered by British adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh in 1595 on his search for El Dorado. However, it was the Spanish who started to refine the pitch in 1792 and called it .Tierra de Brea, meaning land of pitch the name eventually became La Brea.