Page 16 - ATA

A16 LOCAL
Saturday 6 January 2018

Another Treasure of Aruba’s Beaches: Sea Glass!

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