La Brea is a town in southwestern Trinidad , located northeast of Point Fortin and southwest of San Fernando . La Brea (Spanish for "the tar" or "the pitch") is best known as the site of the Pitch Lake , a natural asphalt lake.
12-608: Lake Asphalt of Trinidad and Tobago is a company based in La Brea in Trinidad involved in the mining, processing and exporting of asphalt products from the Pitch Lake . The business was founded in 1851 by the tenth Earl of Dundonald who took out a patent for the use of asphalt from the Lake at La Brea. J.W. Previte and A.L Barber later joined the team and in 1888 secured a 21-year concession for
24-638: A few stores and an internet café . 10°15′N 61°37′W / 10.250°N 61.617°W / 10.250; -61.617 National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited ( NGC ) is a state-owned natural gas company. It was created by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in 1975. NGC operates in the field of gas pipelines, industrial sites, gas production, port and marine infrastructure, natural gas liquids and liquefied natural gas . It has assets worth $ 43 billion. Its credit rating by Moody's
36-471: A population of about 18,000. There are two main seasons: the dry season from January to May and the rainy season from May to December. La Brea is famous for its natural wonder of the world, "The Pitch Lake", which is actually the largest of three in existence. It is located on an area of depression in the landscape; with some pools, reeds and grayish asphalt everywhere. The asphalt is so soft in some areas that an individual can slowly sink if he/she stands on
48-482: A result of the condition of the roads. After 7 pm transport becomes very difficult to obtain. In La Brea the main and largest industry is the Lake Asphalt Company. Small-scale farming and fishing are other sources of income. However, many residents work outside the community either in the neighboring towns of Point Fortin and San Fernando or even further. Proposals for the construction of a smelter plant in
60-446: Is bounded by the Gulf of Paria on the west, Mondesir Road and part of National Mining on the north, by Fowl Play Bridge Aripero village on the south and by Union Village on the east. The villages included within these boundaries are: Union, Vessigny, Chinese Village, Aripero, Sobo, Rousillac village, Vance River and La Brea. It is approximately 52 km (20 sq mi) in size and has
72-547: The area have been the subject of protests due to the harmful effects such an industry may pose for residents. Like much of southwestern Trinidad, La Brea has declined since the end of the oil boom in the early 1980s. The closure of the Trintoc (now Petrotrin ) camp at Brighton was a major blow to the economy of the town. Attempts were made to lure heavy industry to the Labidco (La Brea Industrial Development Company) Industrial Estate in
84-461: The early 1970s, when the UK market switched to coal tar , asphalt became a much less popular product and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago took ownership of the asphalt extraction business in 1978. Asphalt from the Lake is currently sold throughout the world as a modifier for refinery bitumen . La Brea, Trinidad and Tobago La Brea health district is situated in the mid-western peninsula. It
96-771: The early 1990s, but the geological instability of the area made the area unsuitable. More recent attempts to attract medium and light industry have been more successful. In particular, the La Brea Industrial Estate, and its accompanying natural deep-water harbour at Brighton , were developed by NGC (National Gas Company)/NEC as an alternative industrial site to Point Lisas . At present, La Brea offers dock and deep draught harbour facilities, site and utilities for land-based industries, bioremediation and offshore logistical support. The main recreational and relaxation facilities are Vessigny beach resort, "Carat shed" beach, Station beach, Pitch Lake Brighton sports ground and
108-464: The exploitation of the Lake. In 1949 the business was renamed The Trinidad Lake Asphalt Company . Ownership remained with the Previte Company based in the UK which comprised a network approximately 24 public companies around the world through which the asphalt was sold. The Limmer & Trinidad Lake Asphalt Company became the first contractor to use asphalt from the Lake for road surfacing. In
120-404: The local villagers. Roads in the district have to be constantly repaired, which usually takes a long time. Road users are inconvenienced by the condition of the roads and commuters have to pay very high fares. The means of transportation are: maxi taxis , P-cars , taxis and buses. Residents who have their own transport claim that vehicles are very costly to maintain because of frequent repairs as
132-677: The sports ground located in Sobo The only available health resources are Petrotrin Lake Asphalt Medical Centre, which is a private enterprise for health care of workers and their immediate family. The other health facility is the La Brea Health Centre, which serves the entire community. La Brea is the location of the court house, revenue division, post office , market, abattoir , food court, drug store (in Rousillac), along with
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#1732855801448144-451: The surface too long. In some places one can put a stick through the asphalt and remove liquid tar. During the rainy season, the pools collect water, which becomes sulfurous due to the gases that are being released through the asphalt layers. These pools of water become breeding places for Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito) and other mosquitoes , thereby creating a health risk for workers of Lake Asphalt Company and tourists as well as
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