Natural Wonder · La Brea, Trinidad and Tobago
Pitch Lake
The Pitch Lake is the largest natural deposit of bitumen in the world, estimated to contain 10 million tons.
Photo: Martina Jackson via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | La Brea, Trinidad and Tobago |
|---|---|
| Type | Natural Wonder |
| Area | Area: 0.405 km² |
| Coordinates | 10.2325° N, 61.6281° W |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Pitch Lake is known for
The Pitch Lake is the largest natural deposit of bitumen in the world, estimated to contain 10 million tons.
About Pitch Lake
The Pitch Lake is the largest natural deposit of bitumen in the world, estimated to contain 10 million tons. It is located in Trinidad and Tobago, more specifically in La Brea in southwest Trinidad, within the Siparia Regional Corporation. The lake covers about 0.405 square kilometres (100 acres) and is reported to be 76.2 metres (250 feet) deep. Pitch Lake is a popular tourist attraction, including a small museum, from where official tour guides can escort people across the lake.
History
The Pitch Lake has fascinated explorers and scientists, attracting tourists since its discovery by Sir Walter Raleigh in his expedition there in 1595. Raleigh himself found immediate use for the asphalt to caulk his ship.
How to get there
| Nearest town | La Brea |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Piarco International Airport (POS) |
| Distance from the airport | 32.2 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Piarco International Airport (POS) · Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago · 31.9 miles away
- A.N.R. Robinson International Airport (TAB) · Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago · 83.3 miles away
- Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND) · Saint George's, Grenada · 122.9 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Trinidad and Tobago
More natural wonders
Frequently asked questions
What is Pitch Lake?
The Pitch Lake is the largest natural deposit of bitumen in the world, estimated to contain 10 million tons.
Where is Pitch Lake located?
Pitch Lake is in La Brea, Trinidad and Tobago. Its coordinates are 10.2325° N, 61.6281° W.
How do I get to Pitch Lake?
The nearest town is La Brea, and the nearest airport is Piarco International Airport (POS), about 32.2 miles away (straight line).
What is the history of Pitch Lake?
The Pitch Lake has fascinated explorers and scientists, attracting tourists since its discovery by Sir Walter Raleigh in his expedition there in 1595. Raleigh himself found immediate use for the asphalt to caulk his ship.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitch_Lake — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q717351 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.