COME VERY QUEER LAKERS.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 98, 20 December 1904, Page 2

COME VERY QUEER LAKERS.

' • "Hodies of Water That Are a Source of Wonder to All Who Behold Them. : One of the most singular lakes in the world is the celebrated Pitch lake of the island of Trinidad. This lake spreads over an area of 99 acres, and its surface is composed of one great floating mass of asphaltum, seamed with veins of clear water. From it, and a similar lake in Venezuela, the world's supply of asphalt is drawn, states the Washington Post. The pitch lake is a hideous place as far as sotiells are concerned, for the air all about it is heavy with noxious vapors, and from the center of the lake gushes a fountain of liquid asphaltum, in which there float and break bubbles containing most horrible gases. - The workmen go put on the surface of this lake and cut great slabs of asphaltum, which are carried away. But the next morning the hole they left is filled up again with the pitch which has risen during the night, so that the supply seems to be inexhaustible. This curious lake was discovered by Sir Walter Raleigh when he landed in Trinidad in 1595, on his way to the mouth of the Orino- | co in search of El Dorado. Another strange lake is situated on a peninsula which juts out I into the Caspian sea. The whole surface of this lake is covered with a crust of salt so thick and strong that a man can ride across it on horseback with safety. In central Asia, near the Caspian sea, is a lake of beautiful rose color, while the banks are covered with salt crystals as white as snow. From the waters of this lake there arises a flower-like odor. The color and the odor are I supposed to be caused by vegetable matter in" the depths. There used to be a curious lake on the top of the Volcano de Aqua,' in Guatemala, 14,000 feet above the level of the sea. It was not fed by springs nor by rivers, but was caused by accumulations of snow and rain — in fact, was an immense reservoir. It lasted for centuries. Then one day the sides of the lake gave way, and down the waters I rolled, dealing death and destruction, and digging a great barranca, or ravine, in the mountain side, which is still visible. "*"