Pitch Lake
Peach Lake is not an ordinary body of water that is located on the island of Trinidad. This place is notable for the fact that it contains an inexhaustible supply of natural asphalt. The lake is not intended for swimming, there is also no fauna here, and it is easy to walk on its surface.
The name of the lake translates into our language as "bitumen lake". Peach Lake is a fairly large lake, its area reaches 40 hectares, and the greatest depth is 80 m. All this huge space is filled with liquid asphalt. The unusual reservoir was discovered in 1595 by some Walter Raleigh from England, who immediately proposed the effective use of viscous lake liquid. Since that time, the local bitumen has been successfully used to treat the surface of wooden ships. Experts estimated the asphalt reserve in Peach Lake at about 6 million tons.
Every year, about 50 thousand tons of high-quality asphalt are mined in this place, which is directly exported. Scientists have calculated that if asphalt is mined at the same rate, then its reserves will last for another 400 years. Of course, Bitumen Lake attracts many tourists, because there is an opportunity to walk the surface of the lake only here. The surroundings of this reservoir cannot surprise travelers in any way, as they are presented in the form of solid gray mud. In the middle of the lake itself, there are places where small trees manage to grow. Tourists of Peach Lake enjoy walking on the surface, looking at the unusual natural landscape. It's a funny business, but it's risky enough, because in some places you can get up to your knees, or even more, in the mud. Quite often, bitumen in the lake can boil, as well as disperse in thick waves, despite the fact that the surface of the reservoir seems solid.
Peach Lake has the property of absorbing a variety of objects, including animals. Among the interesting finds that hid the century-old lake under its black blanket, skeletons of even dinosaurs were discovered, as well as a huge tree that was about 4 thousand years old. Experts claim that the amazing Peach Lake arose on the site of a former volcano, which is still connected to its mouth. It is from this place that an incessant stream of oil bursts to the surface, which is converted into asphalt along the way.
According to legend, there used to be an Indian settlement on the site of the lake, but celebrating the victory over the enemies, they ate a lot of hummingbirds. Their ancestors migrated to the hummingbirds after death. Upon learning of this, the gods caused the earth to open up, and released a huge bitumen lake that destroyed the Indians.
With the help of asphalt from Peach Lake, more than one path has been laid, including London's famous Pall Mall, which leads to Buckingham Palace itself.
