Trinidad and Tobago - Topography

Trinidad is geologically part of South America and its topography is similar to that of the adjoining Orinoco section of Venezuela. Three hill ranges, trending east–west, cross the island roughly through the northern, central, and southern parts, respectively. The Northern Range, a continuation of the mountains of the Paria Peninsula of Venezuela, is the most extensive and rugged of the three and has peaks rising above 900 m (3,000 ft). The highest peaks on Trinidad are El Cerro del Aripo (940 m/3,084 ft) and El Tucuche (936 m/3,071 ft). Hills in the Central Range rise just over 300 m (1,000 ft). Those in the Southern Range are somewhat lower. In between these hill ranges is level or gently rolling flatland, dissected by small streams flowing from the hills. Extensive swamp areas, some of them mangrove, are found along the east, south, and west coasts. Trinidad has the world's largest natural asphalt bog, the 46-hectare (114-acre) Pitch Lake, on the southwestern coast.

Tobago is geologically part of the Lesser Antilles, and its topography, generally more irregular and rugged than Trinidad's, resembles that of Grenada, St. Vincent, and other volcanic islands to the north. A central volcanic hill core rising to over 550 m (1,800 ft) fills most of the island and reaches the sea in many places. Patches of a narrow coastal plain are scattered here and there; much of the island's limited level land is concentrated in its southwestern tip.