La Brea Pitch 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 and 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 eighth wonder of the world, and the largest of its kind, the PITCH LAKE. 

View of the Pitch Lake 

                                                         

Tour Guide demonstrating the texture of the pitch

This tour guide named Mr Roy is seen demonstrating the texture of the pitch from the lake where we understand that some parts are hard and some soft. The soft areas can not be walked on as it may swallow anything. We also learnt that if it can swallow anything it sure can spew and burp (Lol). When this happens a yellowish water substance is seen and at times you get a strong sulphur smell.

Visitors bathing in the well popular lake

CALLIFARIA LEGEND

This legend is about two young lovers who were responsible for the destruction of the settlement of La Brea.  This is what happened! Callifaria - the daughter of Callisuna, who was the chief of the La Brea tribe, fled from her tribe to the long arms of her boyfriend, Kasaka - a prince of the Cumana tribe.  Quite peeved by his daughter's flight, Callisuna and his warriors invaded Cumana, did battle, captured his daughter, tied her to a horse and speedily returned to La Brea.  Unfortunately, Callisuna did not know that his drastic action so angered Pimlontas, the winged Arawak god, who damned the village of La Brea , making it sink into the earth, replacing it with a thick black substance, the Amerindians called PICHE (PITCH).

COLIBRI (Humming) BIRD LEGEND

This legend is about the Chima Indians, a tribe which existed on the very spot where the present lake occupies.  Apparently, after a victory, these Indians had jubilant celebrations which included a grand feast in which vast quantities of Colibri Birds (Humming Birds) were cooked and eaten. The plumes of these small birds were used as accessories.  The victory which had absorbed the minds of the Indians drowned the memory that the delicious Colibrie Birds where really the spirits of their ancestors.  As an act of punishment, the winged God opened up the earth and summoned up a lake of pitch which swallowed up the entire Chima village and its people.

For the Amerindians, the pitch lake was a painful reminder that retribution for evil doing was always at hand.  The lake was a symbol of emptiness, an absence of life and a physical manifestation of Celestial damnation.