Page 17 - AB_Neat

Friday 6 January 2023 locAl
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Another Treasure of Aruba’s Beaches: Sea Glass!

NOORD - It is hard to imag- pieces of sea glass. The sea
ine this happening today, glass that was created is
but years ago people the product of a very long
dumped all kinds of refuse and interesting process. It
straight into the ocean, in- can take anywhere from
cluding old cars, and their 10 to 30 years to make sea
household garbage, which glass. The name for any
of course included lots of piece of glass that finds its
glass. Over the next 30 way to the ocean and tum-
years the pounding waves bles around in the water
cleaned the beach, by long enough is “Sea glass.
breaking down everything
but glass and pottery. The The colorful pieces of glass
pounding waves washed are being used for decora-
the trash up and down, tion, handcrafts and jew-
back and forth. Tons of pol- elry!
ished, broken glass pieces Once glass makes its way
were created by the pound- into the ocean, the glass is
ing surf. These smoothened, broken up into shards and is
colored glass particles then tumbled around in the wa-
settled along the sea shore ter, where sand and other
in millions, and that is why rocks act like sandpaper to
you can find these beauti- smooth out its rough edges.
ful and colorful pieces on Sometimes as the sea glass Glass, household appli- It’s hard to believe the in awe of the power of na-
the north shore beaches of is passed through fire, it be- ances and even motor short-sighted mistakes we ture, rent a car or jeep and
Aruba. comes fire glass, the rarest parts were discarded on were making that could go explore our deserted
of sea glass with certain the beach. The waves and have potentially ruined beaches on the north side
Especially on the strip on inclusions, just like precious weather conditions wore these beautiful beaches. of the island. Make it a fun
white sand between the fa- gems. down the overwhelming But thanks to natural pro- family day!
mous Natural Bridge” and amount of garbage in the cesses, the ocean trans- Even if we didn’t mean to
the huge red anchor close For years, the water beat water, creating millions of formed the trash into the pollute the Beaches how
to “Grapefield” beach you against the different kinds beautiful smooth rocks. sea glass. we did, it is inspiring to see
will be able to find your own of trash being dumped. Each colored gem on the just how the earth can cor-
beach has its own story. rect our mistakes.

The ruby red glass stones Funny, how trash can
are typically from old car change into treasures!
tail-lights.
Everybody knows that you
Then, the sapphire rocks are not allowed to take
are the remnants of bro- local shells home, but the
ken apothecary bottles. people working at the air-
The most common and port have no problem you
the easiest to find are the taking sea glass home. A
brown (Amstel & Polar few of those pieces make
beer), green (Heineken great souvenirs. You can
& Balashi beer) and clear place them in a wine glass
glass which are the soft or large bottle for decora-
much loved “soft drink” tion and every time you
bottles. look at it a smile will light up
your face thinking back of
If you like to see the sea your unforgettable Aruba
glass for yourself, and be vacation! q