Trinidad
is home to the world’s largest pitch lake, approximately 95 acres. Few others
even come close the size of ours. It is located on Trinidad’s west coast and is
the reason we are able to export pitch to over thirty countries worldwide to be
used on highways, airports, bridges and other heavy duty sites.
There
is one popular legend of how the pitch lake came to be. According to the myth,
a tribe existed in the very spot of the present day pitch lake. After a victory
in battle they celebrated with a big feast where humming birds were cooked and
eaten. These birds however were believed to be the spirits of their ancestors.
The Gods were as a result angered and opened up the earth, summoning the pitch
lake to swallow the village and its people.
To
give credit to the story archaeologists have found relics from the tribe as well
as a tooth that belonged to the largest prehistoric mammal to walk, a mammoth. In
1928 a huge tree estimated to be 4000 years old rose 10 feet before sinking back
into the lake.
What
do you think about this legend? Does it spark an even greater interest to visit
the lake?
I can see why it is the Gods destroyed them, I mean how can you want to eat something that is so small and beautiful? But I have lived here all of my life and I have never given a second thought to the pitch lake, because we all knew what it is used for. I did not even know that story until just now. I got to say that is pretty cool story.
ReplyDeleteWow, does anyone else here think that it is just beyond Amazing that they actually found a tooth that belonged to a MAMMOTH!! I mean that is the coolest thing that I have heard from something they found in Trinidad. I wonder if the rest of the mammoth is still under the pitch lake somewhere? To find the full thing would be really cool.
ReplyDeleteI have been to the pitch lake one time in my life and was not really impressed. But no one ever told me the legend of how the lake came to be or even that archaeologist found remains and tools in the lake. If someone had told me this from when I went I would have payed more attention.
ReplyDeleteI visited Trinidad like 4 years ago and went to the pitch lake with my family, I showed them that this is where we got all out pitch from for the roads. The tour guide told us all of this information which we thought to be really interesting much like you all find it to be. But what I am surprised to see is that you all seem to be locals but did not know this information.
ReplyDeleteYes it is true that we sometimes take what we have fro granted. Because most locals including myself and like the others that commented above I as well did not know any of this information. But what I found to be the most interesting is when they mentioned that "a huge tree estimated to be 4000 years old rose 10 feet before sinking back into the lake." That part is just astonishing to me and it makes you wonder as to exactly what the depth is and what other secretes dose it hold.
ReplyDeleteI have always wondered why it is no one has ever unearth any fossils of any prehistoric animals or dinosaurs. But for all we know there could be in the pitch lake and sadly we will never know. I have realized that there is a lot more to my home than I realized since I started reading this blog.
ReplyDeleteLegend? Didn't even know there was one which is a great eye opener dear Author.
ReplyDeleteAs a local, I never had interest in visiting it. I know the Pitch Lake, but all that comes to mind is that we can't run out pitch to pitch d road.
I my opinion, there is a lot to be done in terms of making it a local and tourist attraction.
In order to market our beautiful country, we must recognize the inherent beauty that it offers.
It is certainly clear that the Government and Tourism Sector needs to do a better job at making this natural attraction, the Pitch Lake a Tourist Attraction if we want to showcase our tourism destinations to the world and Trinbagonians.