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LOCAL Friday 22 March 2024

FNPA is hosting another Full Moon Hike!

(Oranjestad)—Every month when the crashing on the rocky shore lines.
moon is full, the Aruba National Park Foun-
dation hosts its monthly full moon hike for Participants are expected to meet and the
both members and non-members. This is Baby Beach parkinglot at 6:15 pm this Mon-
your chance to join in on the fun, and take day, March 25th. The journey will cover 4.3
advantage of seeing the beautiful Aruban kilometers (2.6 miles) and is estimated to
night sky! end around 9pm.

For this month’s full moon event, the hike If you wish to participate, you can sign up
will start at the Baby Beach parkinglot, for the event through this link: https://forms.
where participants will be led through Sero office.com/r/UPTwu4ar0k, or contact the
Colorado and the phosphate mine on the FNPA at (297) 585 1234 or e-mail, info@aru-
east coast. With the moon illuminating your banationalpark.org for more info or ques-
way, you can have a chance to see a few tions. Spots are limited, so don’t wait!
constellations and bright stars shining in the
night sky, while also enjoying the cool night Picture credit: FNPA on Facebook.
breeze and the beautiful sound of waves

The Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins and its history

(Oranjestad)—The Bushiri- important histories of the is- Aruba actually dates back was enough to motivate a search parties.
bana Gold Mill Ruins is one land: The Aruban Gold Rush. to 1725, when a first explo- further search, and the as-
of the most visited places by ration for gold on the island signment was discontinued Over the years, concession-
tourists on the island, as it Built in 1872 by English com- was commissioned by the by Printz himself. holding had seen different
lies along the northern coast pany Aruba Island Gold Min- Dutch West India Company. companies from around
line near the mini pool and ing Company Ltd, the gold Under the leadership of Mr. It wasn’t until 100 years lat- the world, all of which used
on the way to the Natural mill at Bushiribana was con- Paulus Printz, a three-year er, in 1824, when a young primitive methods to dig and
Bridge. Despite its seemingly structed in the area where search was conducted on boy found a lump of gold carve out gold from the
plain appearance, this ruin most gold was found by Aruba, to no avail. Though while out herding his father’s rocks. Aruba Island Gold
represents one of the most locals. The story of gold on they found some gold, it sheep. His father took it to Mining Company Ltd. was no
a local merchant who then different, but used a unique
sold the lump for $70. Unbe- method that involved grind-
knownst to the boy and his ing the rocks and letting the
father, they quite literally dust be blown away by the
struck gold, and as word strong northeast wind, leav-
got out, a gold fever spread ing clumps of gold behind.
among the locals who start- The next step was melting
ed searching for more gold. the gold and letting it at-
About 25 pounds worth was tach to quicksilver in order
found. to obtain pure gold. All these
processes were done at the
At the same time, the Aru- Bushiribana Gold Mill.
ban government took im-
mediate actions, and in- The gold mill itself had a short
formed Curacao that gold life-span: only 10 years in
was found. At first, everyone service, but its structure re-
could look for gold, as long mained relatively solid till this
as they sold it to the govern- day, and is now a historical
ment. However, after some remnant.
time, the government de-
cided to implement stricter Sources: Etnia Nativa &
rules and banned local goldmineranch.com.