The Pitch Lake, Trinidad, is a lake of natural asphalt located at La Brea in the southwest. It has fascinated explorers, scientists and the common folk since its discovery by Sir Walter Raleigh in the year 1595. Raleigh himself found immediate use for the asphalt to caulk his ship. Since then, 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. The lake covers about 40 ha and is reported to be 75 m deep. … Continue Reading