9th November,2020

GEOGRAPHY

INDUSTRIES- THE BLACK LAKE

La Brea is a small community situated in the southwestern part of Trinidad, and lies
approximately, 55 miles (88.5km) from Port–of–Spain, it is bordered by the Gulf of Paria.
La Brea stands about 85 feet (26m) above sea level and has a bowl shape. This humble
community is the home of the eighth wonder of the world, and the largest of its kind, THE
PITCH LAKE. Small pools of water which collects on the surface of The Pitch Lake is
said to have ‘magical healing” powers based on its heavy sulphur content.

Aerial photograph of the Pitch Lake and environs, the convection cells are clearly visible
 A cross-section through The Pitch Lake (after Kugler 1959)

The lake has been mined for asphalt and then refined by the Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA)
company. Surface mining available to TLA does not only make TLA more cost effective,
but its high quality, as sanctioned by global asphalt authorities, also bring merit to its
claim of “….only commercially viable.”
It is presently exported to over thirty nations throughout the world. Since laboratory
records commenced in 1892, the physical and chemical composition has been made
constant by TLA.
An unique naturally occurring asphalt binder for improving the performance of hot mix
asphalt pavements in highways, airports, tunnels and other heavy duty sites. When mixed
with regular liquid asphalt, Trinidad blends provide major pavement performance
benefits:
 Better mix stability, especially at high temperatures
 Increased strain performance and crack reduction at low temperature
 Improved skid resistance and flexibility
 Increased durability and better whole life performance, along with other allied
improvements