Page 10 - AHATA

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local Wednesday 23 august 2023
Aruba’s Bocas: home to the rarest fossil reefs on the planet!

(Oranjestad)—If you’ve reefs have formed.
been to the northern coast
of Aruba already, you’ve This research is also im-
probably noticed how the portant for the future of
ground differs entirely from coral reefs on the island.
the sandy beaches on the By studying rising sea lev-
southern part of the island. els and climate impact on
These hard surfaces, with these coral reefs, we are
sharp bumps and holes able to take concrete ac-
are actually fossilized coral tion in protecting and pre-
reefs, of which its growth serving our coral reefs. So, if
and changes can be you are ever visiting one of
traced back to the last gla- the bocas or driving along
cial period. the northern part of the is-
land, please be conscious
On May 30 2023, geosci- to help protect our natural
entists, Dr. Patrick Boyden historical remnant. Oh, and
from the Marum research wear (coral-friendly) sun-
faculty at the University of levels or extreme weather, side of Aruba. a clear view of how these screen! q
Bremen, Prof. dr. Alessio like hurricanes and tsuna-
Rovere from the Ca' Fosc- mis. These findings can certainly
ari University of Venice and put things into perspective.
Prof. dr. Gianfranco Scic- Through underwater and The ground on which we
chitano, from the University land surveillance, and 3D have walked many times
of Bari Aldo Moro, present- models of the reefs, they in the northern part of the
ed their research on these were able to narrow down island hold such rich history,
fossilized coral reefs at the when these formations history that dates back to
University of Aruba. Their started to take place. They a time that most of us can-
focus for their research in- were also able to track the not even imagine. As the
cluded studying the health fluctuation of sea levels scientists themselves have
and formation patterns of during the past hundred or pointed out, these fossilized
these coral reefs, and to even thousands of years, reefs on the windward side
investigate how these reefs and the effects that this are truly an incredible and
have responded and can fluctuation has had on the rare remnant of geologi-
respond to fluctuating sea coral reefs of the windward cal history, as they provide

Visit the historic museum at Fort Zoutman!

(Oranjestad)—Located in the fort and the tower.
the middle of downtown That’s right, the iconic
Oranjestad, situated right 5-story, squared tower was
next to the government not part of the original
building “Cocolishi”, is one structure of the fort, and
of the oldest buildings of is actually called “Willem
Aruba: Fort Zoutman. First III Toren”. Constructed in
constructed in 1796, this 1867, this tower was named
site has been used (or left after the then-reigning king
unused) in many ways and of The Netherlands, Willem
have survived eras of war III. Willem III Toren was origi-
and attempted disman- nally a light tower, but after
tling. a request from Lieutenant
Governor Jan Helenus in
When anyone refers to Fort 1866, it also became a bell
Zoutman, they are actu- tower.
ally referring to two sepa- The fort itself was originally Paardenbaai from pirates government center points, history of Oranjestad, offer-
rate buildings that, over the constructed to protect and other disreputable including a tax and stamps ing a glance into how the
years, have been merged: the commerce bay of characters roaming the office. For some time these social culture of the town
Caribbean Sea. Unlike the two buildings also housed came to be. If you are in-
Willem III Toren, Fort Zout- a police precinct and jail, terested in history and want
man had a more tumul- and even experienced to learn more about Aruba,
tuous past, including the abandonment until the Cul- then Fort Zoutman should
on-and-off reception of tural Center Aruba Founda- definitely be included into
unwanted members of the tion (CCA) petitioned for its your itinerary.
English military several times renovation in 1964, turning The museum is open Mon-
(The Netherlands was at the site into the Historic Mu- day to Friday from 9am-
constant war with England seum it currently is. 6pm, and Saturday from
back in the colonial era). Despite its small size, The 10am-2pm. q
Over the years, both the Historic Museum guards a Source: The Old Fort of Aruba
fort and the tower had rich depository of the com- by Jan Hartog.
functioned as different mercial, military and social