Page 9 - AHATA
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A4   LOCAL
                 Saturday 18 January 2025






























            Visit the island’s hidden natural pools


                                                            ceive a wristband as proof of payment. Once
                                                            you’ve completed that, you are set!

                                                            If you decide to hike from the entrance of the
                                                            Arikok  National  Park,  this  is  also  possible:  do
                                                            bring plenty of protective clothing and enough
                                                            water and food—it could take you up to three
                                                            hours to hike there!

                                                            However,  when  you  eventually  do  get  there,  this pool is much easier to reach with any type
                                                            you will be greeted with crystal blue water sur-  of vehicle, and there is no hiking needed. This
                                                            rounded by a natural rock formation that pro-    spot has also become a regular stop for touring
            (Oranjestad)—Amongst the countless beaches  tects you from the wild waves on the other side.  visitors.
            surrounding the island that are well-known and  Though the pool is located on the northern side
            frequently  visited,  there  are  an  additional  two  of the island (where the sea is largely rough and  When you get there, maybe you won’t be able
            “hidden” natural pools that are situated in the  largely no suitable for swimming), the pool itself  to  spot  the  pool  immediately,  because  you
            northern coast of the island, two ideal stops in  is very calm. It’s also relatively deep, and you  will probably notice the moon-shaped lagoon
            your tour itinerary.                            can climb up the rocks and jump in!              where  wild  northern  waves  crash  into  each
                                                                                                             other.  Sounds  scary,  but  if  you  look  down  on
                         Conchi (Natural Pool)                                Cave Pool                      your  right,  you’ll  see  a  calm,  crystal  blue  little
            For  many  years,  Conchi  was  the  only  natural  This  relatively  new  pool  appeared  just  a  few  pool  in  the  corner.  To  get  there,  you  have  to
            pool that we had on the island. Located in the  years ago, when a part of the dried up coral  climb down some stairs. Be careful when climb-
            Arikok National Park, near Boca Keto and the  floor broke off and created a partition between  ing down and follow the instructions of your tour
            Daimari  Ranch,  Conchi—also  known  “Cura  di  the  ocean  and  what  is  now  the  natural  pool  guide if you have one.
            Turtuga  (Turtle’s  Cove)  or  just  Natural  Pool—  that  is  hidden  there.  Because  it’s  still  so  new,
            is reachable with any 4x4 vehicle or by foot if  there is no official name for it, but most people  And just like Conchi, this pool also has a jumping
            you’re  up  for  a  long  hike.  However,  since  it  is  just call it the cave pool.            spot, and a rope to climb back up the boulder.
            part of the National Park, you must first get per-
            mission  from  park  management  to  enter.  You  Just like the Conchi, the new natural pool is situ-     Picture of cave pool is credited
            would  have  to  purchase  a  day  pass,  and  re-  ated on the northern coast of Aruba. However,             to RockaBeach Tours

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


            (Oranjestad)—If  you’ve  been  to                                       Through underwater and land sur-    pointed  out,  these  fossilized  reefs
            the  northern  coast  of  Aruba  al-                                    veillance,  and  3D  models  of  the  on the windward side are truly an
            ready,  you’ve  probably  noticed                                       reefs,  they  were  able  to  narrow  incredible  and  rare  remnant  of
            how the ground differs entirely from                                    down when these formations start-   geological history, as they provide
            the sandy beaches on the southern                                       ed  to  take  place.  They  were  also  a  clear  view  of  how  these  reefs
            part of the island. These hard sur-                                     able to track the fluctuation of sea  have formed.
            faces, with sharp bumps and holes                                       levels  during  the  past  hundred  or
            are  actually  fossilized  coral  reefs,                                even thousands of years, and the  This  research  is  also  important  for
            of  which  its  growth  and  changes                                    effects that this fluctuation has had  the future of coral reefs on the is-
            can be traced back to the last gla-  research  on  these  fossilized  coral  on the coral reefs of the windward  land.  By  studying  rising  sea  lev-
            cial period.                        reefs  at  the  University  of  Aruba.  side of Aruba.                  els  and  climate  impact  on  these
                                                Their focus for their research includ-                                  coral  reefs,  we  are  able  to  take
            On May 30 2023, geoscientists, Dr.  ed studying the health and forma-   These  findings  can  certainly  put  concrete action in protecting and
            Patrick  Boyden  from  the  Marum  tion  patterns  of  these  coral  reefs,  things into perspective. The ground  preserving our coral reefs. So, if you
            research  faculty  at  the  University  and to investigate how these reefs  on  which  we  have  walked  many  are ever visiting one of the bocas
            of Bremen, Prof. dr. Alessio Rovere  have responded and can respond  times  in  the  northern  part  of  the  or driving along the northern part
            from  the  Ca’  Foscari  University  of  to fluctuating sea levels or extreme  island hold such rich history, histo-  of the island, please be conscious
            Venice  and  Prof.  dr.  Gianfranco  weather, like hurricanes and tsuna-  ry that dates back to a time that  to help protect our natural histori-
            Scicchitano,  from  the  University  mis.                               most  of  us  cannot  even  imagine.  cal remnant. Oh, and wear (coral-
            of Bari Aldo Moro, presented their                                      As  the  scientists  themselves  have  friendly) sunscreen! q
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