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LOCAL Saturday 3 February 2024

Another Treasure of Aruba’s Beaches: Sea Glass!

NOORD - It is hard to imag- parts were discarded on bottles.
ine this happening today, the beach. The waves and
but years ago people weather conditions wore If you like to see the sea
dumped all kinds of refuse down the overwhelming glass for yourself, and be
straight into the ocean, in- amount of garbage in the in awe of the power of na-
cluding old cars, and their water, creating millions of ture, rent a car or jeep and
household garbage, which beautiful smooth rocks. go explore our deserted
of course included lots of beaches on the north side
glass. Over the next 30 It’s hard to believe the of the island. Make it a fun
years the pounding waves short-sighted mistakes we family day!
cleaned the beach, by were making that could Even if we didn’t mean to
breaking down everything have potentially ruined pollute the Beaches how
but glass and pottery. The these beautiful beaches. we did, it is inspiring to see
pounding waves washed But thanks to natural pro- just how the earth can cor-
the trash up and down, cesses, the ocean trans- rect our mistakes.
back and forth. Tons of pol- formed the trash into the
ished, broken glass pieces sea glass. Funny, how trash can
were created by the pound- glass that was created is broken up into shards and is Each colored gem on the change into treasures!
ing surf. These smoothened, the product of a very long tumbled around in the wa- beach has its own story.
colored glass particles then and interesting process. It ter, where sand and other Everybody knows that you
settled along the sea shore can take anywhere from rocks act like sandpaper to The ruby red glass stones are not allowed to take
in millions, and that is why 10 to 30 years to make sea smooth out its rough edges. are typically from old car local shells home, but the
you can find these beauti- glass. The name for any Sometimes as the sea glass tail-lights. people working at the air-
ful and colorful pieces on piece of glass that finds its is passed through fire, it be- port have no problem you
the north shore beaches of way to the ocean and tum- comes fire glass, the rarest Then, the sapphire rocks taking sea glass home. A
Aruba. bles around in the water of sea glass with certain are the remnants of bro- few of those pieces make
long enough is “Sea glass. inclusions, just like precious ken apothecary bottles. great souvenirs. You can
Especially on the strip on gems. The most common and place them in a wine glass
white sand between the fa- The colorful pieces of glass the easiest to find are the or large bottle for decora-
mous Natural Bridge” and are being used for decora- For years, the water beat brown (Amstel & Polar tion and every time you
the huge red anchor close tion, handcrafts and jew- against the different kinds beer), green (Heineken look at it a smile will light up
to “Grapefield” beach you elry! of trash being dumped. & Balashi beer) and clear your face thinking back of
will be able to find your own Once glass makes its way Glass, household appli- glass which are the soft your unforgettable Aruba
pieces of sea glass. The sea into the ocean, the glass is ances and even motor much loved “soft drink” vacation! q