La Brea, Trinidad and Tobago

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La Brea is a town in southwestern Trinidad. La Brea is north of Point Fortin and south of Rousillac and San Fernando. La Brea is best known as the site of the Pitch Lake, a natural asphalt lake.

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 has been more successful.

In particular, The La Brea Industrial Estate, and its accompanying natural deep-water harbour at Brighton, was 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, bio-remediation and offshore logistical support.

Coordinates: 10°15′N 61°37′W