Bushiribana and Balashi explained

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

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.^{[1] [2]}

Balashi

In 1899, the Aruba Gold Concessions Company built a gold smelter at Balashi, at the southern end of Frenchman's Pass.^[3] In 1916 during the First World War, it closed for lack of raw materials and spare parts, as most of them came from Germany.^[4]

In 1933, a sea water desalination plant was constructed at Balashi.^[5]

Notes and References

1. http://www.thespecks.com/Aruba/Aruba2000/natbridge.html Account of a visit to the Natural Bridge before the collapse
2. News: Coral bridge, natural Aruba tourist spot, collapses. Associated Press. USA Today. September 2, 2005. January 21, 2012.
3. Web site: Historische Goudmijnen. Aruba. 27 April 2021. nl.
4. Web site: Island Insight Episode XXVIII: Yes! Aruba had its own gold rush . Aruba Today. 30 July 2019 . 27 April 2021.
5. Web site: Water Tower San Nicolas 1939. Monumenten Fonds Aruba . 19 February 2022 .