Page 13 - AHATA

Friday 31 May 2024 LOCAL
A10

Alto Vista chapel and its link to Aruba’s origins

According to Etnia Nativa, tion passed into the hands the black fever epidemic place. The entire surround- of an old house, where
in the 18th century most of of Antonio Silvester’s son- and since people believed ing area was empty and Antonio and Bernardino
the inhabitants of Aruba in-law, Miguel Álvarez, who that the Alto Vista area was desolated, making it hard Silvester would have lived.
were indigenous who lived continued to guide the pa- the most infected, they be- to imagine that Alto Vista About 200 meters from the
on the north coast, one of rishioners in their prayers. gan to build their homes was a town at all. A hun- chapel there is a water
the largest communities further south within the dred years later, people tank which the locals call
lived in Alto Vista. According to the book, Noord area, so the town of can see the remains of Tanki Cacique. In the past
The History of Alto Vista by Noord began to grow into around twenty houses, this tank was closed. But
As they were very religious, R.H. Nooyen, it is not known a community till getting its some made of stone and mostly water was brought
they had a chief with the when Domingo Antonio Sil- own Church. However re- others of clay. Nowadays, out from the Poz di Noord,
name of Antonio Silvester vester came to Aruba from ligious festivals continued only around six of these a well dug in the sand.
who guided them in the Venezuela. The elders be- to be celebrated at this sa- houses remain.
Christian life and it was he lieve Antonio was a Span- cred native place, with the The chapel can be viewed
who decided to build a iard. In 1780, father Joseph custom of arriving in pro- South of the chapel in the from basically any point in
stone chapel with a roof Antonio de la Vegal called cession to Alto Vista. yard two graves can be the north side, even from
of corn rods, which would Bernardino Silvester, one of Two-hundred years after observed, there was the Paradera and Sero Plat.
serve as a place of prayer. Antonio’s sons with his wife the beautiful time of Alto cemetery which father All the historical remains
In 1750 it was blessed by Fa- Anna Cathalina Tromp, Vista, people can no lon- Pablo de Algemesi blessed. around the chapel provide
ther Algamesi who came “neighbors and naturals of ger see much of the town It is not certain, but it is be- us with an idea on how the
from Coro-Venezuela and the island Aruba” and thus of Alto Vista from 1750. With lieved that the two graves old people of Alto Vista
appointed Domingo Anto- they became natives. a lot of work they found belong to Antonio Silvester used to live. Don’t miss the
nio Silvester as the island’s the old foundations of the and Miguel Alvares, ac- opportunity to visit a place
first prosecutor in the name At the end of the eighteen Church of the Queen of cording to Nooyen. About of historical significance
of the Spanish crown and century many inhabitants the Holiest Rosary to build 50 meters near the chapel with a window to Aruba’s
Rome. In 1752 the prosecu- the island died as a result of a new chapel on the same there are still the markings past.q

Episode CXXX-130 Amulets and rituals

NOORD — Mangroves form storms, hurricanes and tsu- during the early stages of Recent studies have shown of fresh and salt water to
transition vegetation from namis. life. that mangroves can be thrive.
land to sea which offers According to experts, man- used for biotechnology.
great protection to tropi- groves capture and store Mangrove forests provide And due to its tolerance The rise in sea level as a
cal islands and continental 34 million tons of carbon many of the resources to salinity, the possibility of consequence of climate
shorelines, estuaries and globally. A great contribu- upon which coastal people transferring genes taken change causes a saline
lagoons of tropical latitudes tion to the fight against cli- depend for their survival from mangrove species to imbalance in the man-
areas, trees and shrubs that mate change and global and livelihood. At low tide, certain foods, such as rice, grove habitat that makes
can grow below the maxi- heat! people can walk across has been studied to devel- their survival difficult in ad-
mum level of tides and are the tidal flats to collect op new varieties of crops, dition to pollution caused
very tolerant to high salinity They promote biodiversity clams, shellfish, and shrimp. generating new opportuni- by man and the overex-
of sea water. Mangrove for- as they serve as a habitat At high tide, fish move in to ties for coastal farmers. ploitation of resources. All
ests forms a separate and in its entirety. Many types of feed among the protection However we must also this endangers these spe-
unique echo system on its fish, crabs, shrimp and mol- of mangrove roots, turning know keep in mind that cies, which are among the
own right. lusks inhabit its roots; birds the marshy land into rich mangroves are very sus- most diverse and produc-
also find a favorable habi- fishing grounds. The man- ceptible to drastic change, tive in the world offering
Mangroves protect both tat in the mangroves. They grove trees themselves pro- delicate because they so many benefits that they
the saltwater and the fresh- also provide spawning vide fuel, medicines, tan- require an environment undoubtedly deserve gov-
water ecosystems they grounds for fish and crus- nins, and wood for building in balance to survive. This ernmental commitment
straddle. The mangroves' taceans on nearby coral houses and boats. means that they require an and our protection.
complex root systems filter reefs and offer them shelter appropriate concentration
nitrates and phosphates Fishermen of Southern Thai-
that rivers and streams land Trang Province have
carry to the sea. They also a saying that goes like this
keep seawater from en- "If there are no mangrove
croaching on inland water- forests, the sea will have no
ways. meaning. It is like having a
tree with no roots, for the
They act as a protective mangroves are the roots of
barrier between water and the sea."—
land, preventing coastal
erosion and reducing the To get to know more about
effect of waves and swells, Aruba's origins, flora, fauna
especially during extreme and cultural heritage, we
weather events, being a recommend this private
powerful shield against cultural encounter session
that has been educating
Article by: Etnia Nativa participants for decades.
Mail us at etnianativa03@
Whatsapp us +297 592 2702 and book gmail.com or Whatsapp +
your Aruban exprerience 297 592 2702 for an amaz-
ing native hour.q
Etnia Nativa is close to the high rise hotels