Lake Bermudez

[citation needed] The Instituto Venezolano del Asfalto (INVEAS) estimated the lake contains 75 million barrels of crude.

This process of biodegradation occurs close to the earth's surface, where temperatures are low enough for the bacteria to thrive, and where the oil is surrounded by fresh meteoric water.

[6] In 1799 German Explorer Alexander von Humboldt described the site during his Latin American expedition as "The spring of the good priest" ("Quelle des guten Priesters").

[5] On 15 September 1883, the government of Venezuela granted a 25-year concession to mine asphalt in Lake Bermudez to the American Horacio R. Hamilton.

[2][5] The political turmoil even led to a temporary interruption in the diplomatic relations with the US between June and December 1908, after Castro had expropriated the company.

Overview map, Estado Sucre in northern Venezuela
Situation map, Libertador situated below the Paria peninsula
Paria Peninsula seen from space