Page 13 - AHATA

Friday 8 January 2021 locAl
A10

By law:

Tourist leaving the island with seashells, white sand and corals

ronment. The high amount
of seashell, sand and corals
confiscated is very strange
and it is suspected that our
own locals are the once
selling these to the tourists,
which is unacceptable.
Upon confiscation at the
airport the tourist also fac-
es a fine that they have to
pay before leaving. This is
surely not a pleasant ex-
perience for the tourist. This
also leads to a negative re-
action which can put our
tourism in a negative light.
ORANJESTAD — For the Conform the international Let’s all give nature the
last months the customs treaty of CITES and our lo- respect it deserves by pro-
department at the airport cal law which protects our tecting our environment.
intercepted many tourists Flora & Fauna, it is com- Stop collecting seashells,
leaving the island with sea- pletetly prohibited to take white sand and corals from
shells, whiste sand and cor- any seashell, sand and our shores and stop sell-
als as souvenies. coral outside of Aruba, this ing these to our tourist. We tions and visitors to enjoy shells and corals. Let’s all
in order to protect our envi- want our future genera- the beauty of our beaches, protect what is ours!q

Another Treasure of Aruba’s Beaches: Sea Glass!

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