Page 8 - HOH

A7
LOCAL Thursday 14 december 2023
Another Treasure of Aruba’s Beaches: Sea Glass!

NOORD - It is hard to imag-
ine this happening today,
but years ago people
dumped all kinds of refuse
straight into the ocean, in-
cluding old cars, and their
household garbage, which
of course included lots of
glass. Over the next 30
years the pounding waves
cleaned the beach, by
breaking down everything
but glass and pottery. The
pounding waves washed
the trash up and down,
back and forth. Tons of pol-
ished, broken glass pieces
were created by the pound-
ing surf. These smoothened,
colored glass particles then
settled along the sea shore
in millions, and that is why ter, where sand and other Each colored gem on the iest to find are the brown go explore our deserted
you can find these beauti- rocks act like sandpaper to beach has its own story. (Amstel & Polar beer), beaches on the north side
ful and colorful pieces on smooth out its rough edges. green (Heineken & Balashi of the island. Make it a fun
the north shore beaches of Sometimes as the sea glass The ruby red glass stones beer) and clear glass which family day!
Aruba. is passed through fire, it be- are typically from old car are the soft much loved Even if we didn’t mean to
comes fire glass, the rarest tail-lights. “soft drink” bottles. pollute the Beaches how
Especially on the strip on of sea glass with certain we did, it is inspiring to see
white sand between the fa- inclusions, just like precious Then, the sapphire rocks If you like to see the sea just how the earth can cor-
mous Natural Bridge” and gems. are the remnants of broken glass for yourself, and be rect our mistakes.
the huge red anchor close apothecary bottles. The in awe of the power of na-
to “Grapefield” beach you For years, the water beat most common and the eas- ture, rent a car or jeep and Funny, how trash can
will be able to find your own against the different kinds change into treasures!
pieces of sea glass. The sea of trash being dumped.
glass that was created is the Glass, household appli- Everybody knows that you
product of a very long and ances and even motor are not allowed to take
interesting process. It can parts were discarded on local shells home, but the
take anywhere from 10 to the beach. The waves and people working at the air-
30 years to make sea glass. weather conditions wore port have no problem you
The name for any piece of down the overwhelming taking sea glass home. A
glass that finds its way to the amount of garbage in the few of those pieces make
ocean and tumbles around water, creating millions of great souvenirs. You can
in the water long enough is beautiful smooth rocks. place them in a wine glass
“Sea glass. or large bottle for decora-
It’s hard to believe the tion and every time you
The colorful pieces of glass short-sighted mistakes we look at it a smile will light up
are being used for decora- were making that could your face thinking back of
tion, handcrafts and jew- have potentially ruined your unforgettable Aruba
elry! these beautiful beaches. vacation! q
Once glass makes its way But thanks to natural pro-
into the ocean, the glass is cesses, the ocean trans-
broken up into shards and is formed the trash into the
tumbled around in the wa- sea glass.