Page 14 - ARUBA TODAY

A14 LOCAL
Monday 17 July 2017
Another Treasure of Aruba’s Beaches: Sea Glass!

ARASHI - It is hard to imag-
ine this happening today,
but years ago people
dumped all kinds of refuse
straight into the ocean, in-
cluding 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 everything but glass
and pottery.
The pounding waves
washed the trash up and
down, back and forth.
Tons of polished, broken
glass pieces were created anchor close to “Grape-
field” beach you will be
by the pounding surf. to the ocean and tumbles
These smoothened, col- able to find your own piec- around in the water long
es of sea glass.
ored glass particles then enough is “Sea glass.
settled along the sea shore The sea glass that was cre- The colorful pieces of glass
ated is the product of a
in millions, and that is why are being used for decora-
you can find these beauti- very long and interesting tion, handcrafts and jew-
process.
ful and colorful pieces on elry!
the north shore beaches It can take anywhere from Once glass makes its way
10 to 30 years to make sea
of Aruba. Especially on into the ocean, the glass is
the strip on white sand be- glass. broken up into shards and is
The name for any piece
tween the famous Natural tumbled around in the wa-
Bridge” and the huge red of glass that finds its way

ter, where sand and other The most common and
rocks act like sandpaper to the easiest to find are the
smooth out its rough edges. brown (Amstel & Polar
Sometimes as the sea glass beer), green (Heineken
is passed through fire, it be- & Balashi beer) and clear
comes fire glass, the rarest glass which are the soft
of sea glass with certain much loved “soft drink”
inclusions, just like precious bottles.
gems. If you like to see the sea
For years, the water beat glass for yourself, and be
against the different kinds in awe of the power of na-
of trash being dumped. ture, rent a car or jeep and
Glass, household appli- go explore our deserted
ances and even motor beaches on the north side
parts were discarded on of the island. Make it a fun
the beach. The waves and family day!
weather conditions wore Even if we didn’t mean to
down the overwhelming pollute the Beaches how
amount of garbage in the we did, it is inspiring to see
water, creating millions of just how the earth can cor-
beautiful smooth rocks. rect our mistakes.
It’s hard to believe the Funny, how trash can
short-sighted mistakes we change into treasures!
were making that could Everybody knows that you
have potentially ruined are not allowed to take
these beautiful beaches. local shells home, but the
But thanks to natural pro- people working at the air-
cesses, the ocean trans- port have no problem you
formed the trash into the taking sea glass home. A
sea glass. few of those pieces make
Each colored gem on the great souvenirs. You can
beach has its own story. place them in a wine glass
The ruby red glass stones or large bottle for decora-
are typically from old car tion and every time you
tail-lights. look at it a smile will light up
Then, the sapphire rocks your face thinking back of
are the remnants of bro- your unforgettable Aruba
ken apothecary bottles. vacation!q