Page 11 - AHATA

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local Tuesday 19 augusT 2025
How Aruban beaches came to be!

(Oranjestad)—We’ve talk- tinue to eat off the corals,
ed about the best beaches sand starts to accumulate
to visit on the island before, around the area. Howev-
but have you ever won- er, whether the sand stays
dered how Aruba got its there is another question
white, sandy beaches, and to be answered, and this is
why there’s a clear differ- where we highlight the big-
ence between the northern gest difference between
and southern shores? Here the northern and southern
are some fun facts about coast of the island.
the development of Aru-
ban beaches. The sand that accumulates
around a torn coral reef
How did Aruba get its white, is swept away along with
sandy beaches? the debris by the ocean
Aruba’s beaches have de- stream. However, in areas
veloped over the span of where it’s shallow and the
thousands of years. Waves stream is weaker, the sand
crashing on the rocky for- tends to sick to the bot-
mations along our coast tom faster. This is why the
line (which consists mainly beaches in the south—the
of coral reefs) have start- areas with weaker stream
ed to wear and tear the and shallower ocean
reefs over time, resulting floors—has sand that current! island. The island actu- ally deeper in the south,
in its gradual breakdown. stretches for miles. In con- ally forms part of South whereas the ocean floor in
Fish that feed off corals trast, the northern area, Why north deep, but south America, and the space the north runs steeply to the
also contribute to this, one where the stream is much shallow? between Aruba and the bottom.q
small bite at a time. Over stronger and the ocean Ah! Good question…and South American continent
the course of thousands floor is much deeper, there interesting phrasing. is simply referred to as land Source: archival document
of years, as waves contin- is no sand present—they that runs under the ocean. provided by the National Ar-
ue to crash and fish con- were swept away with the Aruba is a continental This is why it gets gradu- chive of Aruba (ANA).

The Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and its history

( O r a n j e s t a d ) — T h e However, after some time,
Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins the government decided
is one of the most visited to implement stricter rules
places by tourists on the and banned local search
island, as it lies along the parties.
northern coast line near
the mini pool and on the Over the years, concession-
way to the Natural Bridge. holding had seen different
Despite its seemingly plain companies from around
appearance, this ruin the world, all of which used
represents one of the most primitive methods to dig
important histories of the and carve out gold from
island: The Aruban Gold the rocks. Aruba Island
Rush. Gold Mining Company
Ltd. was no different, but
Built in 1872 by English used a unique method that
company Aruba Island involved grinding the rocks
Gold Mining Company Ltd, and letting the dust be
the gold mill at Bushiribana blown away by the strong
was constructed in the northeast wind, leaving
area where most gold was when a first exploration Under the leadership of Mr. then sold the lump for $70. clumps of gold behind. The
found by locals. The story for gold on the island was Paulus Printz, a three-year Unbeknownst to the boy next step was melting the
of gold on Aruba actually commissioned by the Dutch search was conducted and his father, they quite gold and letting it attach
dates back to 1725, West India Company. on Aruba, to no avail. literally struck gold, and as to quicksilver in order to
Though they found some word got out, a gold fever obtain pure gold. All these
gold, it was enough to spread among the locals processes were done at
motivate a further search, who started searching the Bushiribana Gold Mill.
and the assignment was for more gold. About 25
discontinued by Printz pounds worth was found. The gold mill itself had a
himself. short life-span: only 10 years
At the same time, the in service, but its structure
Aruban government took remained relatively solid
It wasn’t until 100 years later, immediate actions, and till this day, and is now a
in 1824, when a young boy informed Curacao that historical remnant.q
found a lump of gold while gold was found. At first,
out herding his father’s everyone could look for Sources: Etnia Nativa &
sheep. His father took it gold, as long as they sold goldmineranch.com.
to a local merchant who it to the government.