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a8 local
Friday 11 august 2023

Another Treasure of Aruba’s Beaches: Sea Glass!

NOORD - It is hard to imag- For years, the water beat
ine this happening today, against the different kinds
but years ago people of trash being dumped.
dumped all kinds of refuse Glass, household appli-
straight into the ocean, ances and even motor
including old cars, and parts were discarded on
their household garbage, the beach. The waves and
which of course included weather conditions wore
lots of glass. Over the next down the overwhelming
30 years the pounding amount of garbage in the
waves cleaned the beach, water, creating millions of
by breaking down every- beautiful smooth rocks.
thing but glass and pot-
tery. The pounding waves It’s hard to believe the
washed the trash up and short-sighted mistakes we
down, back and forth. Tons were making that could
of polished, broken glass have potentially ruined
pieces were created by these beautiful beaches.
the pounding surf. These But thanks to natural pro-
smoothened, colored glass cesses, the ocean trans-
particles then settled along formed the trash into the
the sea shore in millions, sea glass.
and that is why you can Each colored gem on the
find these beautiful and beach has its own story.
colorful pieces on the north
shore beaches of Aruba. The ruby red glass stones
are typically from old car
Especially on the strip on tail-lights.
white sand between the fa-
mous Natural Bridge” and Then, the sapphire rocks
the huge red anchor close are the remnants of bro-
to “Grapefield” beach you ken apothecary bottles.
will be able to find your own The most common and
pieces of sea glass. The sea the easiest to find are the
glass that was created is brown (Amstel & Polar
the product of a very long beer), green (Heineken
and interesting process. It & Balashi beer) and clear
can take anywhere from glass which are the soft
10 to 30 years to make sea much loved “soft drink”
glass. The name for any bottles.
piece of glass that finds its
way to the ocean and tum- If you like to see the sea
bles around in the water glass for yourself, and be
long enough is “Sea glass. in awe of the power of na-
ture, rent a car or jeep and
The colorful pieces of glass go explore our deserted
are being used for decora- beaches on the north side
tion, handcrafts and jew- of the island. Make it a fun
elry! family day!
Once glass makes its way Even if we didn’t mean to
into the ocean, the glass is pollute the Beaches how
broken up into shards and is we did, it is inspiring to see
tumbled around in the wa- just how the earth can cor-
ter, where sand and other rect our mistakes.
rocks act like sandpaper to Funny, how trash can
smooth out its rough edges. change into treasures!
Sometimes as the sea glass
is passed through fire, it be- Everybody knows that you
comes fire glass, the rarest are not allowed to take
of sea glass with certain local shells home, but the
inclusions, just like precious people working at the air-
gems. port have no problem you
taking sea glass home. A
few of those pieces make
great souvenirs. You can
place them in a wine glass
or large bottle for decora-
tion and every time you
look at it a smile will light up
your face thinking back of
your unforgettable Aruba
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