Page 10 - AHATA
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A10   LOCAL
                 Monday 2 SepteMber 2024

            Visit the island’s popular cave sites!




                                                                                                                       Note to visitors:
                                                                                                   Due to heavy rainfall in the past few days, Arikok National
                                                                                                   Park has informed that they have closed the Quadirikiri
                                                                                                   Cave until further notice for the safety of visitors.


                                                                                                   Fontein remains open from 9am to 4pm.
























            (Oranjestad)—Among  the  Cave,  in  hopes  that  she  ceremonies.
            endless sea of dark brown  would  soon  calm  down
            sand  and  cacti,  there  are  and  turn  away  her  lover.   The Huliba Cave/ Tunnel of
            two  caves  hidden  in  the  Her  beloved,  in  turn,  was           Love
            outskirts  of  San  Nicolas,  in  locked away in the Tunnel  The  Huliba  Cave,  formerly
            the  north-eastern  area  of  of Love (Now known as the  known  as  the  Tunnel  of
            the  island.  These  caves,  Huliba Cave).                Love,  was  once  open  to
            The Quadiriki cave and The                                the  public,  and  was  the
            Fontein  Cave  are  open  to  Through  the  pathways  un-  biggest  and  most  acces-
            visitors  of  the  Arikok  Na-  derneath  the  Tunnel  of  sible of all three caves. This
            tional  Park,  so  if  you  ever  Love  running  up  to  the  cave  had  five  chambers,
            decide  to  take  an  “off-  Quadiriki  cave,  the  two  including one that is heart-
            road”  tour  in  the  park,  be  love bird found each other,  shaped. This cave had nar-
            sure  to  visit  these  prehis-  and  refused  to  let  each  row  stairs  that  led  to  long
            toric caves…and be sure to  other  go.  Because  of  their  pathways  deep  into  the
            bring a flashlight!          stubbornness,  they  both  cave, with a staircase lead-
                                         died in the Quadiriki Cave,  ing to the exit on the other
                  Quadirikiri Cave       their ascending spirits burn-  side.  In  one  of  the  cham-
            Known  for  its  two  cham-  ing two holes in the ceiling  bers, there used to be the
            bers  accompanied  by  a  of the cave. This is why the  carving of the Virgin Mary,
            skylight, the Quadikiri Cave  cave has two holes through  put there for the protection
            is  the  most  popular  cave  which   sunlight   passes  of the cave.
            among  locals  and  tourists,  through  to  illuminate  the
            as it is easy to walk through  chamber.                   However, the Huliba Cave
            and provides great lighting                               has   been    permanently
            for pictures.                Though  there  have  been  closed for a few years now,
                                         discoveries  of  Amerindian  as  a  way  to  preserve  the
            As with all prehistoric or an-  drawing on the wall, these  bat  population  that  lives
            cient  sites,  there  is  always  have  mostly  been  ruined  in  the  cave.  These  Long
            a folk legend that adds to  by  vandalism.  However,  Tongue  Fruit  Bats  and  In-
            the lore and mystery of the  the  Fontein  Cave  further  sect Eater Bats are very im-
            site.  The  Quadirikiri  cave  up north, provides a better  portant to the ecosystem of
            is  no  different.  The  most  glimpse in prehistoric Amer-  the island. Though this cave
            well-known  legend  behind  indian paintings.             is  no  longer  accessible  to
            the cave could be consid-                                 the public, it surely is inter-
            ered  as  Aruba’s  first  love      Fontein Cave          esting to learn more about
            story,  as  it  tells  the  tale  of  Longer than the Quadirikiri  the  history  of  these  caves
            the undying love between  Cave,  the  Fontein  Cave  and the Awarak tribes that
            the  chief’s  daughter  and  contains  pathways  that  resided or utilized them.
            her  beloved.  As  legend  stretch  to  the  limestone
            would  have  it,  the  chief  walls  further  down.  Here  Do  note  that  these  caves
            disapproved  of  his  daugh-  is  also  where  prehistoric  are  very  dark,  humid,  hot,
            ter’s  choice  of  lover,  as  drawings  can  be  seen.  and are inhabited by bats.
            he  thought  him  unworthy.  Though this cave does not  Do      wear    comfortable
            Stubborn and filled with an-  have  its  own  legend,  this  clothing and shoes, as the
            ger,  the  daughter  refused  was  speculated  to  have  pathways  in  these  caves
            to turn away her beloved.    been    occupied—or     at  may be rough and bumpy,
                                         least used by prehistoric Ar-  and don’t forget to bring a
            So,  the  chief  decided  to  awak settlers on the island  flashlight!q
            lock her up in the Quadirikiri  for rituals and other spiritual
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