Bushiribana and Balashi#Balashi

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Bushiribana and Balashi are the sites of two former gold smelters on the Caribbean island of Aruba.

File:Bushiribana gold mine.jpg

Bushiribana

The Aruba Island Gold Mining Company built the Bushiribana smelter in 1825 to extract gold from the ore that was being mined in the nearby hills of Ceru Plat; it operated for ten years. Today, its remains are a stopping-off point for tourists on their way to view the Aruba Natural Bridge, which collapsed on 2 September 2005.[http://www.thespecks.com/Aruba/Aruba2000/natbridge.html Account of a visit to the Natural Bridge before the collapse]{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-09-02-aruba-bridge_x.htm?csp=36|title=Coral bridge, natural Aruba tourist spot, collapses|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=USA Today|date=September 2, 2005|accessdate=January 21, 2012}}

Balashi

File:Balashi gold mine.jpg

In 1899, the Aruba Gold Concessions Company built a gold smelter at Balashi, at the southern end of Frenchman's Pass.{{cite web|url=https://www.aruba.com/nl/ontdek/historische-goudmijnen |title=Historische Goudmijnen|website=Aruba|access-date=27 April 2021|language=nl}} In 1916 during the First World War, it closed for lack of raw materials and spare parts, as most of them came from Germany.{{cite web|url=https://www.arubatoday.com/island-insight-episode-xxviii-yes-aruba-had-its-own-gold-rush/ |title=Island Insight Episode XXVIII: Yes! Aruba had its own gold rush |website=Aruba Today|date=30 July 2019 |access-date=27 April 2021}}

In 1933, a sea water desalination plant was constructed at Balashi.{{cite web|url=https://www.monumentenfondsaruba.com/project/watertower-san-nicolas/ |title=Water Tower San Nicolas 1939|website=Monumenten Fonds Aruba |access-date=19 February 2022 }}

References

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{{Buildings in Aruba}}

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Category:Buildings and structures in Aruba

Category:History of Aruba

Category:Gold mining