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LOCAL Thursday 31 OcTOber 2024

Another Treasure of Aruba’s Beaches: Sea Glass!

If you like to see the sea glass Everybody knows that you
for yourself, and be in awe of are not allowed to take local
the power of nature, rent a shells home, but the people
car or jeep and go explore working at the airport have
our deserted beaches on no problem you taking sea
the north side of the island. glass home. A few of those
Make it a fun family day! pieces make great souvenirs.
Even if we didn’t mean to You can place them in a
pollute the Beaches how we wine glass or large bottle for
did, it is inspiring to see just decoration and every time
how the earth can correct you look at it a smile will light
our mistakes. up your face thinking back
of your unforgettable Aruba
Funny, how trash can vacation! q
change into treasures!

NOORD - It is hard to imag- glass that was created is the carded on the beach. The
ine this happening today, but product of a very long and waves and weather condi-
years ago people dumped interesting process. It can tions wore down the over-
all kinds of refuse straight take anywhere from 10 to whelming amount of gar-
into the ocean, including 30 years to make sea glass. bage in the water, creating
old cars, and their household The name for any piece of millions of beautiful smooth
garbage, which of course in- glass that finds its way to the rocks.
cluded lots of glass. Over the ocean and tumbles around
next 30 years the pounding in the water long enough is It’s hard to believe the short-
waves cleaned the beach, “Sea glass. sighted mistakes we were
by breaking down every- making that could have po-
thing but glass and pottery. The colorful pieces of glass tentially ruined these beau-
The pounding waves washed are being used for decora- tiful beaches. But thanks to
the trash up and down, back tion, handcrafts and jewelry! natural processes, the ocean
and forth. Tons of polished, Once glass makes its way transformed the trash into the
broken glass pieces were into the ocean, the glass is sea glass.
created by the pounding broken up into shards and is Each colored gem on the
surf. These smoothened, tumbled around in the wa- beach has its own story.
colored glass particles then ter, where sand and other
settled along the sea shore in rocks act like sandpaper to The ruby red glass stones
millions, and that is why you smooth out its rough edges. are typically from old car
can find these beautiful and Sometimes as the sea glass tail-lights.
colorful pieces on the north is passed through fire, it be-
shore beaches of Aruba. comes fire glass, the rarest of Then, the sapphire rocks
sea glass with certain inclu- are the remnants of broken
Especially on the strip on sions, just like precious gems. apothecary bottles. The most
white sand between the common and the easiest to
famous Natural Bridge” and For years, the water beat find are the brown (Amstel &
the huge red anchor close against the different kinds of Polar beer), green (Heineken
to “Grapefield” beach you trash being dumped. Glass, & Balashi beer) and clear
will be able to find your own household appliances and glass which are the soft much
pieces of sea glass. The sea even motor parts were dis- loved “soft drink” bottles.