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local Thursday 14 sepTember 2023

Blackstone Beach

Blackstone Beach shows
the more natural side of
Aruba: the stones that cov-
er the beaches and the
shape of it has been craft-
ed for thousand years via
volcanic eruptions, coral
reef movements and wave
activity of the rural northern
part of the island.

Located further east to the
Natural Bridge and Andi-
curi Beach, the Blackstone This beach forms part of very strong and can eas-
Beach is relatively easy the Arikok National Park ily stray you further in the
(Oranjestad)—Named af- stones. Secondly, it lies on to access. Once you get and is therefore a site that wild ocean. However, you
ter its most recognizable the northern side of the is- passed the Ayo Rock For- is preserved. This is why it is can still enjoy a spectacu-
feature, the Blackstone land, away from the white mation, take the Andicuri also relatively untouched lar view of the stones and
Beach almost represents sandy beaches of in the road leading up to Andicuri by commercial influenc- the northern ocean that
the opposite of the typical southern region. So, if you Beach. There, you can park es. Despite being called stretches out in front of the
Aruban beaches. For one, feel up for something differ- your car and take a 1km a beach, do note that it beach and take a picture
it has black sand and is ent—or if it’s opposite day, hike towards Blackstone is not advised to swim in with your friends or family!q
covered in black smooth visit the Blackstone Beach. Beach. the water, as the current is

The Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and its history

(Oranjestad)—The Bushiribana
Gold Mill Ruins is one of the most It wasn’t until 100 years later, in
visited places by tourists on the is- 1824, when a young boy found a
land, as it lies along the northern lump of gold while out herding his
coast line near the mini pool and father’s sheep. His father took it to a
on the way to the Natural Bridge. local merchant who then sold the
Despite its seemingly plain ap- lump for $70. Unbeknownst to the
pearance, this ruin represents one boy and his father, they quite liter-
of the most important histories of ally struck gold, and as word got
the island: The Aruban Gold Rush. out, a gold fever spread among
the locals who started searching
Built in 1872 by English company for more gold. About 25 pounds
Aruba Island Gold Mining Compa- worth was found.
ny Ltd, the gold mill at Bushiribana
was constructed in the area where At the same time, the Aruban gov-
most gold was found by locals. The ernment took immediate actions,
story of gold on Aruba actually and informed Curacao that gold
dates back to 1725, when a first was found. At first, everyone could out gold from the rocks. Aruba Is- bana Gold Mill.
exploration for gold on the island look for gold, as long as they sold it land Gold Mining Company Ltd.
was commissioned by the Dutch to the government. However, after was no different, but used a unique The gold mill itself had a short life-
West India Company. Under the some time, the government decid- method that involved grinding the span: only 10 years in service, but
leadership of Mr. Paulus Printz, a ed to implement stricter rules and rocks and letting the dust be blown its structure remained relatively sol-
three-year search was conducted banned local search parties. away by the strong northeast wind, id till this day, and is now a histori-
on Aruba, to no avail. Though they leaving clumps of gold behind. The cal remnant.
found some gold, it was enough to Over the years, concession-holding next step was melting the gold and
motivate a further search, and the had seen different companies from letting it attach to quicksilver in or- Sources: Etnia Nativa & goldminer-
assignment was discontinued by around the world, all of which used der to obtain pure gold. All these anch.com.
Printz himself. primitive methods to dig and carve processes were done at the Bushiri-