La Brea, Trinidad and Tobago
Encyclopedia
La Brea is a town in southwestern Trinidad
, located north of Point Fortin
and south of Rousillac and San Fernando
. La Brea (Spanish for "the tar") is best known as the site of the Pitch Lake
, a natural asphalt
lake. Pronunciation of "La Brea" differs from that used in the USA at the La Brea Tar Pits
in Los Angeles. Trinidadians call this place "La Bray."
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, Aripero, Sobo, Rousillac village and La Brea proper.
everywhere. The asphalt is so soft in some areas that an individual can slowly sink if he/she stands on 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 sulphurous due to the gases that are being released through the asphalt layers. These pools of water become breeding places for Aedes aegypti
and other mosquito
es, thereby creating a health risk for workers of Lake Asphalt Company and tourists as well as the local villagers.
s, P-cars, taxis and buses. Residents who have their own transport claim that vehicles are very costly to maintain because of frequent repairs as a result of the condition of the roads. After 7 pm transport becomes very difficult to obtain.
district of San Fernando
or even further. Proposals for the construction of a smelter
plant in 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 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 service is not always reliable and residents occasionally have to obtain water via trucks or use rainwater when available.
The main recreational and relaxation facilities are Vessigny beach resort, "Carat shed" beach, Station beach, Pitch Lake Brighton sports ground and the sports ground located in Sobo village.
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 a few stores and an internet café
.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
, located north of Point Fortin
Point Fortin
Point Fortin, the smallest Borough in Trinidad and Tobago, is located in southwestern Trinidad, about southwest of San Fernando. After the discovery of petroleum in the area in 1906 the town grew into a major oil-producing centre. The town grew with the oil industry between the 1940s and 1980s,...
and south of Rousillac and San Fernando
San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
The City of San Fernando with a population of 55,419 according to the 2000 census, is the larger of Trinidad and Tobago's two cities and the second largest municipality after Chaguanas. It occupies 18 km² and is located in the southwestern part of the island of Trinidad...
. La Brea (Spanish for "the tar") is best known as the site of the Pitch Lake
Pitch Lake
The Pitch Lake is the largest natural deposit of asphalt in the world, located at La Brea in southwest Trinidad, within the Siparia Regional Corporation. The lake covers about 40 ha and is reported to be 75 m deep....
, a natural asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
lake. Pronunciation of "La Brea" differs from that used in the USA at the La Brea Tar Pits
La Brea Tar Pits
The La Brea Tar Pits are a cluster of tar pits around which Hancock Park was formed, in the urban heart of Los Angeles. Asphaltum or tar has seeped up from the ground in this area for tens of thousands of years. The tar is often covered with water...
in Los Angeles. Trinidadians call this place "La Bray."
Location
La Brea health district is situated in the mid-western peninsula. It is bounded by the Gulf of PariaGulf of Paria
The Gulf of Paria is a shallow inland sea between the island of Trinidad and the east coast of Venezuela. This sheltered body of water is considered to be one of the best natural harbours on the Atlantic coast of the Americas...
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, Aripero, Sobo, Rousillac village and La Brea proper.
Climate
There are two main seasons: the dry season from January to May and the rainy season from May to December.Topography
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 asphaltAsphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
everywhere. The asphalt is so soft in some areas that an individual can slowly sink if he/she stands on 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 sulphurous due to the gases that are being released through the asphalt layers. These pools of water become breeding places for Aedes aegypti
Aedes aegypti
The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti is a mosquito that can spread the dengue fever, Chikungunya and yellow fever viruses, and other diseases. The mosquito can be recognized by white markings on legs and a marking in the form of a lyre on the thorax...
and other mosquito
Mosquito
Mosquitoes are members of a family of nematocerid flies: the Culicidae . The word Mosquito is from the Spanish and Portuguese for little fly...
es, thereby creating a health risk for workers of Lake Asphalt Company and tourists as well as the local villagers.
Transportation
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 taxiMaxi taxi
Maxi taxis are private, owner-operated minibuses in Trinidad and Tobago that are used in public transport. They operate along fixed routes, having fixed fares and meeting points. However they do not operate under a timetable...
s, P-cars, taxis and buses. Residents who have their own transport claim that vehicles are very costly to maintain because of frequent repairs as a result of the condition of the roads. After 7 pm transport becomes very difficult to obtain.
Industry and economy
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 neighbouring Point FortinPoint Fortin
Point Fortin, the smallest Borough in Trinidad and Tobago, is located in southwestern Trinidad, about southwest of San Fernando. After the discovery of petroleum in the area in 1906 the town grew into a major oil-producing centre. The town grew with the oil industry between the 1940s and 1980s,...
district of San Fernando
San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
The City of San Fernando with a population of 55,419 according to the 2000 census, is the larger of Trinidad and Tobago's two cities and the second largest municipality after Chaguanas. It occupies 18 km² and is located in the southwestern part of the island of Trinidad...
or even further. Proposals for the construction of a smelter
Smelting
Smelting is a form of extractive metallurgy; its main use is to produce a metal from its ore. This includes iron extraction from iron ore, and copper extraction and other base metals from their ores...
plant in 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
Petrotrin
Petrotrin, the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago is the major State-owned oil company in Trinidad and Tobago. The company was established in 1993 by the merger of Trintopec and Trintoc, two state-owned oil companies. A third company, Trinmar was later merged into the company...
) 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 the early 1990s, but the geological
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
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 of Trinidad and Tobago
The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited is a state-owned natural gas company. It was created by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago in 1975. NGC is operating in the field of gas pipelines, industrial sites, gas production, port and marine infrastructure, natural gas liquids and...
(National Gas Company)/NEC as an alternative industrial site to Point Lisas
Point Lisas
Point Lisas is the site of the Point Lisas Industrial Estate and the Port of Point Lisas, both of which are managed by Plipdeco...
. At present, La Brea offers dock and deep draught
Draft (hull)
The draft of a ship's hull is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull , with the thickness of the hull included; in the case of not being included the draft outline would be obtained...
harbour facilities, site and utilities for land-based industries, bioremediation
Bioremediation
Bioremediation is the use of microorganism metabolism to remove pollutants. Technologies can be generally classified as in situ or ex situ. In situ bioremediation involves treating the contaminated material at the site, while ex situ involves the removal of the contaminated material to be treated...
and offshore logistical support.
Local amenities
Although there is a piped water supplyWater supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavours or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes...
the service is not always reliable and residents occasionally have to obtain water via trucks or use rainwater when available.
The main recreational and relaxation facilities are Vessigny beach resort, "Carat shed" beach, Station beach, Pitch Lake Brighton sports ground and the sports ground located in Sobo village.
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
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, market, abattoir, food court, drug store (in Rousillac), along with a few stores and an internet café
Internet cafe
An Internet café or cybercafé is a place which provides internet access to the public, usually for a fee. These businesses usually provide snacks and drinks, hence the café in the name...
.