Photo By Sgt. Emily Greene | Rocks and small pieces of glass line the shores at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay's...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — Called the "Pearl of the Antilles," Guantanamo Bay's wonders are little-known to the rest of the world. Once a frequent port of call in Spanish colonial days, this community on the southeast corner of communist Cuba is now a closed port where only a few experience the beauty it has to offer.
One of the hidden beauties of Guantanamo Bay is Glass Beach. Nestled between Ferry Landing and Girl Scout Beach, this small stretch of sand and rock is cloaked in local legend. From pirate ships to long-dead Sailors, the stories abound to explain the namesake of this particular beach. Famous for the sea glass that washes up on the shore, Glass Beach is a favorite spot for anyone who appreciates these gems and who wants to get away from the inherent stressors of life on this particular island.
Navy Cmdr. Jeffrey Johnston, director of public works for U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, is familiar with the stories about Glass Beach.
"Like so many things at Guantanamo, the lines between story and truth are somewhat hazy," Johnston said. "Everyone wants to believe something exotic about the glass that washes up here. There isn't a house in Guantanamo that doesn't have a jar of sea glass from here on their windowsill."
Johnston said one of the main stories involves the Enlisted Men's Club that used to be located overlooking the beach. Known as the "White Hat Club," because of the headgear worn by enlisted men in the early part of the 20th century, the recreational facility was a place for enlisted men to let off steam after a long day of work.
"It has been said that Sailors would chuck their empty bottles into the bay and this is what washes up on the beach now," said Johnston. "Some bottles probably did end up in the drink, but not nearly enough to explain the volume of glass that washes up here."
The true origin of the glass that gives the beach its name is something much less pleasant to the sensibilities of today.
"Prior to any sort of environmental awareness, the naval station used to dump trash directly into the bay," Johnston said. "That, and the landfill just down from the beach. The waves from the bay and inclement weather loosen the old trash and wash it out into the bay with the rest. Eventually, it washes back up on the shore."
The reason Glass Beach has the most glass on its shore lies in the way the land is shaped. The beach is set back a little from the rest of the shoreline and is protected from the rough waters.
"There is really no other place for glass to wash up," said Johnston. "This beach is the only real place that sediment is able to remain on. This is due to a large storm drain that empties at this beach. The storm drain washes the sandy soil onto the shoreline here, creating the sandy beach and mixing with the sediments from the bay."
While the sea glass that glistens in the sand of Glass Beach may not have the most romantic origins, it is unique in its sheer volume. Also known as "mermaid's tears" or "lucky tears," sea glass is rare in most places around the world. But, in Guantanamo Bay anyone can visit Glass Beach and take home a handful.
In his book, "Pure Sea Glass," Richard LaMotte describes these semi-natural gems as "castaway glass" that has been naturally tumbled by sand and sea before washing ashore.
"Each piece is unique with its own story behind it, and can date from ancient times to the present," LaMotte writes. "One can only imagine where the glass originated and how long it has been bobbing in the sea."
Rebecca Bayless has spent much time combing the beaches for sea glass and fashioning it into wearable art.
"I never saw sea glass until I came here a few years ago," Bayless said. "I was amazed at how pretty it was and began to learn about the different kinds of glass."
Bayless said she has found even the rarest colors of sea glass on Glass Beach.
"Black is the most rare color world-wide," Bayless said. "It dates from the mid to late 1800s, before the naval station. It is really green or purple glass that has darkened to almost black over time. The most likely origin of the black glass is probably rum bottles from the pirate ships that were known to be in this area."
Here in Guantanamo Bay there are other colors of sea glass that are even less common, said Bayless.
"Here, I would say orange, yellow and red are the hardest to find. And then, of course, there is the coveted cobalt blue that you have to really look for," Bayless said.
Bayless said she has seen an increased interest in sea glass from the time she first arrived on the island to the present.
"There used to be more," Bayless said. "Since that time more people have become aware of the special nature of sea glass."
Whether from pirate revels, tipsy Sailors, or the less-romantic trash dump into the bay, Glass Beach undoubtedly holds a beauty unique to Guantanamo Bay. It is a place alive with legend, that glitters when the sun hits it just right. Enjoyed by everyone on the island, the beach is part of what makes Guantanamo Bay the "Pearl of the Antilles."
| Date Taken: | 05.15.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 05.19.2009 15:32 |
| Story ID: | 33815 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 3,483 |
| Downloads: | 248 |
This work, Glass Beach: Guantanamo's Gem, by SGT Emily Greene, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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