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Roughly 25km southwest of San Fernando lies the Pitch Lake , location of some of the world's finest-quality asphalt. The popular tourist attraction is well signposted 1.5km south of La Brea on the SMR. Locals may claim it as the eighth wonder of the world, but to the sightseer it bears a remarkable resemblance to the wrinkly hide of an elephant. It is a genuine curiosity, however, as there are only three such lakes in the world, the other two being in Los Angeles (Rancho La Brea) and Venezuela (Guanaco). Five to six million years ago, asphaltic oil flowed into a huge mud volcano, developing over time into the asphalt that is now extracted from the lake. The material is used to pave roads all over the world, including Pall Mall leading to Buckingham Palace in London, though the poor local village has yet to profit from this resource on their doorstep. Authorized guides operate from the main booth (TT$30), and if you plan on touring wear shoes with low heels and be careful not to let the pitch touch your clothes - it is a nightmare to clean.
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