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LOCAL Friday 19 January 2024

Aruba’s Bocas: home to the rarest fossil reefs on the planet!

(Oranjestad)—If you’ve
been to the northern coast
of Aruba already, you’ve
probably noticed how the
ground differs entirely from
the sandy beaches on the
southern part of the island.
These hard surfaces, with
sharp bumps and holes
are actually fossilized coral
reefs, of which its growth
and changes can be traced
back to the last glacial pe- of Aruba. Their focus for their when these formations start- in the northern part of the tant for the future of coral
riod. research included study- ed to take place. They were island hold such rich history, reefs on the island. By study-
ing the health and forma- also able to track the fluc- history that dates back to ing rising sea levels and cli-
On May 30 2023, geoscien- tion patterns of these coral tuation of sea levels during a time that most of us can- mate impact on these coral
tists, Dr. Patrick Boyden from reefs, and to investigate the past hundred or even not even imagine. As the reefs, we are able to take
the Marum research faculty how these reefs have re- thousands of years, and scientists themselves have concrete action in protect-
at the University of Bremen, sponded and can respond the effects that this fluctua- pointed out, these fossilized ing and preserving our cor-
Prof. dr. Alessio Rovere to fluctuating sea levels or tion has had on the coral reefs on the windward side al reefs. So, if you are ever
from the Ca' Foscari Univer- extreme weather, like hur- reefs of the windward side are truly an incredible and visiting one of the bocas or
sity of Venice and Prof. dr. ricanes and tsunamis. of Aruba. rare remnant of geologi- driving along the northern
Gianfranco Scicchitano, cal history, as they provide part of the island, please be
from the University of Bari Through underwater and These findings can certainly a clear view of how these conscious to help protect
Aldo Moro, presented their land surveillance, and 3D put things into perspective. reefs have formed. our natural historical rem-
research on these fossilized models of the reefs, they The ground on which we nant. Oh, and wear (coral-
coral reefs at the University were able to narrow down have walked many times This research is also impor- friendly) sunscreen!q

Aruban legends:

Frenchman’s Pass

(Oranjestad)—If you ever land. However, as the French involves a lonely hitchhiker, for impact, but just when
plan on taking a group tour were heavily equipped with trying to find a ride back he though the car might Sometime later, two men
of the island, you may pass fire arms, the indigenous set- home in the dark rainy night. drive straight off the road walked into the bar and
through the Frenchman’s tlers began to retreat, and and crash, he saw a hand one of them noticed the
Pass in Balashi. The French- hid away in nearby caves. Sometime after trying to appear out the window hitchhiker. He called out to
man’s pass (known to locals The French colonizers tried hitchhike, the man saw a car and turn the wheel. For the his buddy and said: “Look,
as “Franse Pas”) remains a to smoke them out of the approaching, appearing next few turns, the hand ap- there’s the idiot who sat in
mysterious—and spooky— caves, but the indigenous almost ghost-like in the rain. peared again. After having our car when we were push-
road of which its legend is settlers ended up inhaling However, since he needed had enough, the man de- ing it!”
told from generation to gen- too much smoke and most a ride real bad, he didn’t cided to jump out and he
eration. died in those caves. From think twice and jumped in. ran to Santa Cruz. French man’s pass is one of
then on, this passage was But to his horror, he noticed the few sites on the island
The history of the French- known as Frenchman’s Pass, that the there was no driver Arriving at a nearby bar, he that keeps the locals on their
man’s pass—and how it got and there have been many in the front. Paralyzed with ordered a drink and began toes. While most ghost stories
its name—dates back to the accounts of spirits roaming fear, he didn’t dare to get to tell everyone about his may not have real grounds—
colonization era, when the the area of Spanish Lagoon. out, and the car started to experience. Everyone grew or some may even be a set
French tried to colonize the move. quiet, because they realized up story for a joke, this pass
island, but were met with an There are many ghost stories he wasn’t some drunk mess- contributes a lot to our cul-
angry mob of indigenous set- surrounding this area, but When approaching a sharp ing around; he was telling ture of folkloric story-telling.
tlers, refusing to give up their one of the most famous one turn, the hitch hiker braced the truth. Source: visitaruba.com.q