Posted on 09/02/2005 7:00:13 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
ORANJESTAD, Aruba - A natural coral bridge that spanned a cove along Aruba's west coast collapsed before dawn Friday, destroying one of the island's biggest tourist attractions.
The bridge, the largest of its kind in the Caribbean, was 25 feet high and 100 feet long, said Tourism Minister Edison Briesen. The cause was not immediately known, he said.
"It's a very sad day for Aruba and for its tourism," Briesen said. "A picture of the bridge appears in almost every promotional flier, and more tourists visit it than any other attraction."
He stood among hundreds of Arubans who traveled along a bumpy dirt road to see what remained of the national treasure.
"The people who saw it always marveled," said Julie Lacle, a 26-year-old taxi driver who often took tourists to the bridge. "They couldn't believe how beautiful it was."
The bridge, a formation of coral limestone cut out from thousands of years of pounding waves and strong winds, was a popular picnic spot. Hundreds of visitors walked across it each year.
A crack had appeared at one end of the bridge several years ago, said Jose Joseph, who owns a nearby snack and souvenir shop.
Aruba has several natural bridges, some of them difficult to reach. A shorter bridge is located next to the one that collapsed.
"We lost the mother. But we still have the daughter," Joseph said.
The bridge's collapse brought more bad news to an island that has been under the scrutiny of the U.S. media for three months since the disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway.
Aruba, an island of 97,000 people, depends on tourism for 70 percent of its gross domestic product. It welcomes 728,000 visitors a year and an additional 550,000 cruise ship passengers. Some 70 percent are from the United States.
Aruba has several natural bridges, some of them difficult to reach. A shorter bridge is located next to the one that collapsed.
"We lost the mother. But we still have the daughter," Joseph said.
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versus the Holloway family
Who lost a daughter but still have the mother.
Ironic this should collapse the day it was announced all 3 suspects who were last seen with Natalie Holloway will be released.
Tourists and Arubans look at a natural bridge that collapsed over night in Aruba, Friday, Sept. 2, 2005. The natural bridge is one of Aruba's top tourist attractions. The coral bridge spanned some 100 feet (30 meters) 25 feet (7.3 meters) above a cove on the island's west coast. (AP Photo/Leslie Mazoch)
Bush should have stopped this.
All Three Suspects in Case of Missing Alabama Teen to Be Freed ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1476097/posts
Bush did it.
This is like a kick in the Kalpoes...
Isn't coral like an underwater Bush?
Global warming....
LOL!!
If only Greta had still been there, she would have done something to stop it...
There is no doubt that Bush knew this collapse was going to happen at
some point in his failing Presidency. Just ask the Democrats.
/FIST, Damn you BUSH!!
/S
It's Bush's fault! Hehehehe, I just had to say it!
NO CORAL FOR OIL!!!!!
Carl Rove masterminded the collapse in concert with Bush, with whom he communicated via encrypted text messaging hidden in the photos of looting conducted by thugs in NO.
In the meantime, the NO "mayor" blasphemes God while on a radio interview and uses perjoratives while hundreds of busses decay in flood waters.
Oh, the busses didn't have toilets on board, so they could not be used.
Is there a "before" picture?
Where did you hear that?
Karl Rove moves in mysterious ways.
Geraldo and Saint Cindy need to head to Aruba to cry over this...
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