Page 17 - AHATA

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LOCAL Monday 11 SepteMber 2023

Another Treasure of Aruba’s Beaches: Sea Glass!

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