Page 12 - AHATA

Thursday 4 december 2025 locAl
A10

Aruba’s Bocas: home to the rarest fossil reefs on the planet!

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

Aruba’s kite flying tradition

(Oranjestad)—Every year for King’s King’s Day. These kites were tra-
Day, Arubans gather with friends ditionally made with things found
and family to fly kites. Big or small, in the nearby mondi* and in the
paper or plastic, blue skies fill up kitchen at home. Using dried up
with these colorful flying contrap- cactus sticks for the frame, old
tions, brightening our yearly cel- news papers, and glue made from
ebration of the Dutch Monarch. flour, water and salt to dry faster
(some people even use cornstarch
The tradition of flying kites starts at slurry as glue), kids usually make
home in the weeks leading up to their own kites with their friends,

parents or other close family mem- the better!
bers. Tails are made from old bed
sheets, ripped and tied together to People usually fly their kites in big
create a long string of fabric trail- open fields, like empty soccer and
ing behind the back end of the baseball fields found all around
kite. To finish off the process, peo- the island around noon, when the
ple used fish lines or thin rope to tie sun is at its brightest. In the past
three corners of the kite together. few years, kite flying has become
Another long string of rope is tied a sport in which groups of people
in the knotted center and bundled would battle against each other to
up, used to steer the kite as it flies see whose kite is the biggest, the
in the air. Decorating the kite was prettiest, and whose could fly flaw-
especially important, and children lessly and longer in the air.
would use paint to create their
own designs—the more colorful, *Mondi: Aruban woods.