Baby Beach, Aruba
Encyclopedia
Lagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
located in Seroe Colorado, on the southeast end of the island of Aruba
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
, and is frequented by locals and tourists alike. It is named Baby Beach as the water is so calm it is safe for very small children. The snorkeling at this location is great for children or travelers new to snorkeling.
The beach is popular mostly due to the lack of waves and the shallow water. The Valero oil refinery is within sight of Baby Beach. However, because of the direction of local currents, Baby Beach still has very clean, clear water. In the past, Baby Beach's popularity led it to become somewhat littered. However, clean-up programs have largely restored the beach to a pristine condition.
The water level is generally waist high on the inside, but towards the inlet, it deepens significantly. Marine life in the lagoon include barracuda
Barracuda
The barracuda is a ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance. Its body is long, fairly compressed, and covered with small, smooth scales. Some species could reach up to 1.8m in length and 30 cm in width...
, squid
Squid
Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles...
, parrot fish, blowfish
Blowfish
The blowfish, or Tetraodontidae, is a fish in the Tetraodontidae family.Blowfish may also refer to:* The Blowfish, a satirical newspaper at Brandeis University* Blowfish , encryption algorithm...
, angel fish, eel
Eel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
s, and many other small fish. The range of most of these animals is limited to the inlet.
At the beach there is a small snack stand, and chairs and umbrellas for rent. Four-wheel drive cars are also available for rent in which to ride around the beach.
History
In the 1950s, the Aruba Esso Club was built as a part of Lago ColonyLago Colony
Lago Colony was a community located on the east end of the island of Aruba, in the area presently known as Seroe Colorado. This town consisted of about 700 homes, a hospital, club house, bowing alley, and an American School, with first through twelfth grades and approximately 180 students...
(present-day Seroe Colorado), at Baby Beach (on the west side of the lagoon). The club included a restaurant, dance floor, and a baseball stadium. In the lagoon, there was a dock, and there were small shacks (one of which is still standing). Today, it is no more than a large, abandoned building (with one business, a dive shop, still in operation).