Santiwah

La Vega

Located in central Trinidad, La Vega Estate is a 250 acre paradise with outdoor activities and interests for the whole family. Originally a cocoa estate, La Vega is now home to a unique combination of a garden centre, plant nursery, nature and recreation park.

La Vega is much more than a business venture to owner, Bertram Manhin, whose lifelong love affair with plants and nature led him to purchase the estate in 1983. An avid plant collector, Manhin soon established a nursery which he stocks with plant material from both local sources and his travels around the world.

Also a great lover of fruit, Manhin has successfully introduced and cultivated a wide variety of rare and exotic fruit in Trinidad. Among his favorites are rambutan from Malaysia, giant dongs and sweet carambola from Taiwan, abiu and giant peewah from Brazil and Costa Rica.

You can read the rest of the information by visiting the offical website @

http://www.lavegaestate.com/index.htm

Waterfalls in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad Waterfalls

Paria Waterfall

Marianne Falls

Madamas Waterfall

Sombasson Falls

Edith Falls

Rio Seco / Salybia Falls

Guanapo Waterfalls / Guanapo Gorges

Habio Falls

Turure Fall

Angel Falls

Rincon Falls

Rampanalgas Falls

Three Pools

Soho Caves

Aripo Caves

Cumaca Caves

Gasparee Caves

Togago Waterfalls

Argyle Waterfalls

Rainbow Waterfalls

Aripo

Aripo applies to several place names in Trinidad. The Heights of Aripo and the Aripo Massif are part of the Northern Range and include El Cerro del Aripo the highest point in Trinidad and Tobago. The Aripo Valley a valley in the Northern Range immediately to the west of the Arima Valley The Aripo River which flows from the Aripo Massif through the Aripo Valley and eventually joins the Caroni River. The Aripo Savannas a part of the Aripo Savannas Scientific Reserve an area of lowlands bounded by the Aripo River. The Aripo Savannas are Pleistocene river terraces with highly leached soils and impeded drainage. They form one of the last remaining patches of natural savanna in Trinidad and Tobago. The savannas are sedge-dominated and are flooded during the wet season and extremely dry during the dry season. They support several endemic plant species and many other species that are not found elsewhere in Trinidad.

"From first view, one can see that there are marked differences in the vegetation of the Aripo Savannas. In the 1800 hectors that make up the Aripo Savannas Scientific Reserve, there are three distinct plant communities. These are the Marsh Forest which consists of Timite (Manicaria saccifera), Manac and the Palm Reale; the Palm Marsh consisting mainly of Moriche Palm (Mauritia setigera) and the Fat Pork (Crysobalanus icaco); and finally the savannas it self which consists of wild cashew, savanna serrett (Brysonima Crassifolia) and several grasses like paspalum. There are ten natural savannas in the Aripo area.

The soil in the Aripo Savannas is very infertile, consisting mostly of gravels and very sandy and silty soils which layer impermeable clays. The clay causes the Aripo Savannas to have an elevated water table which creates the hydrophitic or marsh forest which surround the natural savannas. (C)copy write AnaPrice 2008 Geog IA UVIB."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aripo

Trinidad's Northern Range of Mountains

The Northern Range runs from the Chaguaramas Peninsula in the west to Toco in the east

The Northern Range is the range of tall hills across the northern portion of Trinidad the major island in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The hills rise abruptly from the lowlands of northern Trinidad the so-called East-West Corridor but only the two tallest peaks El Cerro del Aripo and El Tucuche top 900 m. The south-facing valleys run deep into the hills and support major rivers while the north-facing valleys are generally short and are drained by smaller streams.

The Northern Range consists mainly of sedimentary rocks - schists and limestones; portions at the eastern end of the range are of volcanic origin. The hills are mostly forested although deforestation and the formation of fire-savannahs is one of the major environmental concerns in Trinidad.

The Northern Range runs from the Chaguaramas Peninsula in the west to Toco in the east. The eastern Northern Range areas east of Arima remain most heavily forested. Portions west of Arima especially the southern slopes and valleys have been extensively deforested since they lie immediately north of the most heavily populated parts of the island.

At the western end of the Northern Range the capital city Port of Spain climbs into the hills and the valleys are settled and largely deforested.

The Arima Valley remains as the westernmost valley that is still primarily forested in a large part due to the presence of the Asa Wright Nature Centre in this valley.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Range

The Abbey Mt. St. Benedict

Perched on a Mountain Top and situated at the upper most point of the oldest Benedictine Monastery in the Caribbean at The Abbey Mt. St. Benedict St. Augustine Trinidad and Tobago W.I.

Established in 1912 Mount St Benedict is the oldest Benedictine monastery in the Caribbean lies on the flank of the Northern Range 800 feet above St Augustine with spectacular views over the central plains beautiful gardens and nature trails.

Artist Retreat Facilities Simple accommodation studio space nature trails and meeting rooms against the historic backdrop of Mt. St. Benedict

To foster and facilitate the recognition of the place of the Visual Arts as an essential thread in the tapestry of expressions which makes up ones culture and to commit to contributing in a significant way to its development and meaningful utility to the wider community. The Gallery actively encourages interaction of various publics.

Gallery’s opening hours are Sunday to Sunday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

Tel/fax:1-868- 645-1905 or 1-868-622-4992

http://www.sfmission.com/cgi-bin/gallery/imageFolio.cgi?direct=Trinidad/Attractions/Northern_Range/Monastery_-Mount_Saint_Benedict&img=

Trinidad Lake Asphalt - A Natural Wonder.

The Trinidad Pitch Lake is the largest of its kind in the World. The second and only other deposit similar to Trinidad’s lake is located in neighboring Venezuela. However, there are tar pits located in Hancock Park, in the urban heart of Los Angeles, California.

See Link: http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-Asphalt-Lakes-44704.shtml

From the days of Sir Walter Raleigh the pitch formed in the bowels of the earth and pushed to the surface to collect in the bowl that we refer to as the Pitch has fascinated countless people then and even to this day. More than 20,000 visitors travel to La Brea in Southern Trinidad to visit the site. It is estimated that about half of the visitors are tourists and the first memory of the lake is the smell that emanates from the boiling tar pit.

The Amerindians believed that the formation of the lake was a punishment from God. If you travel to the lake expecting to see something fascinating you might be in for a surprise. On arrival all you might see is a very large parking lot that might cause you to wonder why did they put such a large parking lot  at the site and where is the pitch? Well that large parking lot is the Pitch Lake that can be bubbling in certain areas while producing hissing sounds in other areas and smelling not so pleasant because of the sulphurous content. The ‘lake’ covers an area that is about 100 acres and is estimated to be about 250 feet deep at the center with an estimated 6 million tons of asphalt that is replenished daily from deep within the bowels of the earth’s surface. It is estimated that an additional 400 years supply remains beneath the surface.

People travel from all over the World to visit the site and even take a bath in areas where substantial water has pooled. They claim that the water has healing attributes and guarantee that it cures rheumatism, arthritis, joint pain and many other ailments. Apart from these claims it is important to note that the main income earner is the mining of the asphalt that is processed and exported for high-quality road construction.

Countless stories of exploitation of this natural resource can be told but the discovery of the use of coal tar quickly led the foreign developers to pack up and leave behind a financial mess for stock holders of the company that managed the processing of the asphalt for sale worldwide.  In the end the government of Trinidad and Tobago had to step in to form Trinidad Lake Asphalt Company that mines and sells the asphalt modifier worldwide.

The history of the lake and other related topics can be accessed from the Trinidad Lake Asphalt site located at:

http://www.trinidadlakeasphalt.com/company_history.html

"Come Leh We Go To Tobago"

So you want to get away and the Caribbean was recommended, then Tobago is a must visit place to lay back and unwind. Tobago is part of the Twin Island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. So "come leh we go, let we go to Tobago. That Paradise found by Robinson Crusoe ..." You will not be disappointed.

Beaches of Trinidad and Tobago Part 1

There are many beaches in Trinidad and Tobago but this video provides a glimpse of the more popular destinations to visit. In another installment we will take a look at the other destinations that are visited but are not as popular as the beaches highlighted in the video. Until then enjoy the clip and if you are a Trini visiting this blog please don't forget to leave a comment about the beach that you love to visit at home.

Trinidad's Mud Volcanoes

Mud! No, don’t start making plans to join a band for Monday Mass – it isn’t about carnival. Neither does it apply to a mud bath at some exotic Spa (ding, ding, ding … idea for a new industry). It has to do with Mud Volcanoes that dot Trinidad’s southern geological landscape. Nature's unique blend in the southern belt causes the earth to ooze a bubbly concoction to the surface that fascinates the local population as well as visitors to the southern belt in Trinidad. It should be noted that all of the known mud volcanoes are located in the area of the land based oil finds. The Trinidad and Tobago Geological society provides a map of known mud volcano sites in Trinidad that is presented below with the web address to access more information about these natural wonders.

http://www.gstt.org/teaching/mv.htm

There are several areas to visit starting with the Devil’s Wood yard that is reported to have at least fifty active vents. These mud vents located east of Marabella erupt infrequently but the events are reported to be very dramatic indeed.

The Piparo site provided a spectacular eruption in 1997 burying ten houses and covered a one square mile area in mud.

The Cascadoux mud volcano is located in the Manzanilla area and is in the same fault line as the offshore volcanic activity at Point Radix.

Several others exist including Digity that is located in Debe, South Trinidad and has a cone that is reportedly 20 feet high that also ejects mud and gas.

L’Eau Michel is located on Penal also in South Trinidad.

Lagon Bouffe is located in the Trinity Hills wild life sanctuary and is reportedly one of the largest on the island.

The Anglais Point mud volcano is located in the Palo Seco area again in South Trinidad and flows about seven hundred feet onto the beach.

The Erin Mud Volcanoes are part of a chain of mud volcanoes that run from Cedros to Morne Diablo and are reported to have the volcano with the largest cone.

The Karamat mud volcano is located in the Moruga area and has small pools of mud with oil visible in the mixture.

The Chatam mud island created a stir with the ocean bubbling and oozing a sulfurous mix. The end product was a dark grey clay stone like material with yellow streaks of sulfur.

A good place to start looking for information is at the government geological site that is presented as a link above but there are many online resources that provide detailed information about each site. The information presented here is just a start since there are other smaller sites not covered here. Please access the government site for details on the sites if you plan to adventure into Trinidad's Mud volcanic areas.

World Famous ASA Wright Nature Center

The World famous Asa Wright Nature Center is a natural wonder and Trinidad's gift to the World.“The continental origin and proximity of Trinidad to South America, along with its varied habitats, has resulted in an extremely diverse biota. Species lists for this island are impressive, including 97 native mammals, 400 birds, 55 reptiles, 25 amphibians, and 617 butterflies, as well as over 2,200 species of flowering plants! No other area in the West Indies, and few areas of comparable size in tropical America, can match this spectacular species diversity. Trinidad is 50 miles long by about 37 miles wide, and dominated by the Northern Range, which rises to about 3,000 feet and was historically covered by tropical rainforest. Here, in this lush part of this beautiful island, you will find the magical Asa Wright Nature Centre.” For more information about the center and to read the complete article please visit the official website http://www.asawright.org/about/index.html”

The Asa Wright Nature Center is nestled 1,200 feet in the bosom of the Northern range just about seven miles from my home town of Arima. As a matter of fact one needs to pass through Arima to get to the Blanchieusse road to access the Northern Range of Mountains to get to the Center.  The Nature Center is the oldest of its kind in the West Indies and has been set up in what used to be an old cocoa, coffee and citrus plantation. There was a time in the history of Trinidad when the Arima plantations supplied the main exports of the country – cocoa, cocoa products and coffee. The importance of the cocoa crop meant that the estates were well cared for by their owners.  The Asa Wright Nature Center is part of one of those plantations.  The area affords beautiful views with the sound of streams and misty views waiting for the curious traveler/adventurer. I remember bicycling with my friend Claude from Arima all the way to the village of Blanchieusse. I know that the views of the valleys and the smell of the air and the purity of the streams are pristine in many areas. The tropical forests are dense and the terrain affords good perches for the birds that frequent this mountainous region.  It is comprised of “1,500 acres of mainly forested land in the Arima and Aripo Valleys of the Northern Range, the AWNC's properties will be retained under forest cover in perpetuity, to protect the community watershed and provide important wildlife habitat.” In 1999, AUDUBON magazine selected the Centre as one of just nine eco-lodges worldwide that it considered one of "The World's Ultimate Outposts." In 1993, The President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago presented the Nature Centre with the Hummingbird Gold Medal for its community service in the field of environmental conservation. This award is among the country's highest national honors (information taken from the Nature Center’s home page).

Indeed the Center should be on the itinerary of nature lovers and it should be noted that this natural wonder,with just a touch of the islanders hands, offers various package deals for staying on site (see link below).  So, if ever or whenever you visit my Sugar Island please stop by at the Nature Center where you will relax and unwind with nature and leave feeling recharged for the daily grind of the modern life.

http://www.asawright.org/visitors/index.html