Lake Bermudez, Natural tar pit in Sucre State, Venezuela
Lake Bermudez is a tar lake in Sucre State covering roughly 445 hectares, with dense vegetation growing across its surface. The waters reach depths between 1.5 and 2 meters and hold natural asphalt deposits beneath the plant coverage.
The lake was documented and explored by German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt in 1799 during his expedition through Latin America. Von Humboldt named it 'The spring of the good priest' during that early scientific visit.
The Warao indigenous people applied the natural asphalt from Lake Bermudez to waterproof their canoes, demonstrating early practical uses of this resource.
The lake sits roughly 140 kilometers southeast of Cumana near the Guanoco River and about 25 kilometers east of Golfo de Paria. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and prepare for the dense vegetation that covers much of the ground.
What sets this place apart from other asphalt deposits worldwide is the thick plant growth covering its surface. This unusual mix of liquid tar and vegetation makes it a rare natural occurrence.
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