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            Where to Find the Anchor?




            At the south east coast of the island,
            standing  alone  on  a  windswept
            and barren land stands a popular
            Aruba landmark – a  large anchor.
            It  overlooks  the  sea  just  beyond,
            watching over the shipping lanes.
            It  stands  there  in  memory  and  in
            honor of all seamen who have lost
            their life at sea.

            Where to Find the Anchor?
            The  anchor  is  a  “must  see”  land-
            mark  when  you  visit  Aruba.  It  is
            among  the  most  photographed
            historical  landmarks  for the  island.
            You  want  to  make  sure  you  add
            this  stop  on  your  itinerary  when
            your visiting the south coast of Aru-
            ba. The bright red anchor against
            the  backdrop  of  the  deep  blue
            Caribbean sea and the azure blue
            skies,  make  a  great  backdrop  for
            your vacation pictures.
            The  anchor  is  located  at  the  en-
            trance  to  Gate  6  to  the  former
            Lago Colony. It is on the outskirts of
            Seroe Colorado, on the south east
            point of the island at the “T” junc-
            tion to Baby Beach.
            Depending on where you are stay-
            ing  on  the  island,  follow  the  signs
            that  indicate  the  way  to  Baby
            Beach. Once you reach the T-junc-
            tion, it will be right in front of you.

            About the Anchor
            Size
            It will be hard to miss the anchor,   ing  orders,  etc.  The  weather  was  nus  –  the  Harbormaster  of  Aruba;  After Chralies Brouns Jr died on Sep-
            it’s  huge!  The  anchor  that  weighs   rough with strong current. The nor-  Mr. August Genser – the ex-Division  tember 15, 2004, his friend Mr. Sam
            21,772  kilos,  is  approximately  10   mal  procedure  is  that  they  would  Superintendent  of  Lago’s  Labora-  Speziale,   requested   assistance
            feet 6 inches wide  and 15  feet, 6   walk out three shackles (about 90  tory; and Mr. Willie Davis – Owner  from  the  management  of  Valero
            inches tall.                        feet) until the anchor touches the  of Filtec at Zeewijk in San Nicolas),  Aruba Refinery to help maintain the
            On  the  anchor  there  are  some   bottom  while  the  chain  must  rest  were  having  a  conversation  with  monument.  The  Valero  Aruba  Re-
            numbers.  The  4112  and  4115,     on the bottom. Subsequently, they  Mr. Charlie Brouns Jr. at his famous  finery, graciously sandblasted and
            which are believed to be the serial   will  walk  out  some  extra  shackles  Charlie’s  Bar  and  Restaurant  in  painted the anchor and poured a
            numbers that refer to the “fluke” or   and when the ship starts to swing  San  Nicolas.  Charlie,  who  was  a  concrete  pad  around  it.  On  April
            horizontal and vertical parts of the   or lean on one side, the anchor is  visionary  and  had  dreams  for  de-  17,  2005,  the  anchor  monument
            anchor,  respectively.  The  number   properly set. Because of the rough  veloping the San Nicolas area, told  was rededicated “To All Seamen”
            21772K refers to the weight of the   weather,  unfortunately  they  did  these gentlemen that he would like  in a formal ceremony in memory of
            anchor in kilos.                    not  get  the  time  to  walk  out  the  to  come  up  with  something  inno-  Charlaes Brouns Jr.
            This type of anchor was manufac-    extra tackles and because of the  vative for the San Nicolas area to  Today, the anchor stands both as
            tured by Hoesch Dortmund Horde,     tension  exerted  on  the  winch,  it  draw tourism to the area.         memorial to all seaman who have
            at a foundry located in Germany.    broke,  and  they  lost  the  anchor  The  “anchor”,  which  at  that  time  lost their lives at sea, but also as a
                                                and its chain.“                     was  being  stored  at  the  Oranjes-  silent  reminder  that  Seroe  Colora-
            Where did the Anchor Come From?                                         tad  harbor,  was  suggested  as  an  do is part of San Nicolas and that
            There  are  a  number  of  stories  as   Story 2:                       option.  Charlie  liked  the  idea!  He  San Nicolas is still a vibrant and im-
            to the origins of the anchor, which   “Mr.  Curiel  also  said  that  at  one  then  contacted  the  President  of  portant part of the island of Aruba.
            one do you think it was? (Unfortu-  time a small tanker with a Korean  Lago for permission to acquire the
            nately the mystery has never been   crew, while lifting their anchor also  anchor.  He  was  granted  permis-  The Best Time to Visit
            solved,  so  your  imagination  can   lifted another anchor near the in-  sion and the anchor was then re-   When  your  planning  your  visit  to
            pick  which  one  you  think  it  might   ner  harbor.  When  the  ship  asked  located to its present location and  the south end of the island, you will
            be!)                                for assistance, he went with his tug-  dedicated “To All Seamen” on the  want to include in your itinerary the
                                                boat along with a barge, to help.  occasion of the closing of the Lago  many things to see and do there.
            Story 1:                            But eventually they had to cut the  Oil Refinery on March 31, 1985.      The anchor will be just one of these
            “According to Mr. Manuel M. Cu-     chain and let the anchor go to the                                       stops, (I will recommend other plac-
            riel, an ex-Lago Tug Captain, a fully   bottom  because  they  could  not  Through the Years                 es  below).  With  that  being  said,  I
            laden  VLCC  (Very  Large  Crude    untangle them. ”                    Through the years the Anchor was  have to say, if you enjoy catching
            Carrier)    was  seeking  a  mooring                                    slowly  weathering  from  the  wind  a sunrise, the anchor is one of the
            at  the  15-mile  anchorage,  known   How  Did  The  Anchor  Become  a  and salt. As time passed, sadly the  best places on the island to catch
            as  Bara,  on  the  southern  part  of   Landmark?                      origin  and  purpose  of  the  anchor  the sunrise. But in reality, anytime is
            the island. This is the usual shallow   Sometime between 1980 and 1985,  slowly  faded  away  from  people’s  a good time to visit, depending on
            mooring  location  for  ships  await-  three  gentlemen  (Mr.  Wim  Marti-  memories.                        your personal schedule.q
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