Page 10 - aruba-today-20221215

Thursday 15 december 2022 locAl
A10

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