The mysterious “Pitch Lake” in Trinidad isn’t some manmade attraction, but rather the largest natural deposit of asphalt in the world. It is 75m deep and draws in 20,000 visitors annually. That’s not all, it’s also mined for asphalt by the Lake Asphalt of Trinidad and Tobago. Continue reading for a video, more pictures, and additional information.
Video
Pitch Lake has fascinated explorers and scientists, as well as attracting tourists, since its discovery by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1595. Raleigh himself found immediate use for the asphalt to caulk his ship. Exported asphalt from Pitch Lake was also used to pave the streets of some regions of New York City. Since its re-discovery, there have been numerous research investigations into the use and chemical composition of this material. Above all, there have been countless theories, postulations, and conclusions as to the size, source, and origin of the asphalt.
