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California
Point
Lighthouse |
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Sand dunes, birds and iguanas. |
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Essentials |
Location: On a hill at the northern end of Aruba, the lighthouse is named for the wreck of the California, offshore in only 15 to 30 feet of water. The California is the ship that received signals from the doomed Titanic. California Point has an extensive area of sand dunes. It also is an important nesting area for brown pelicans. The lighthouse is encircled with huge boulders that make the landscape almost moon-like. On the drive here you may be fortunate enough to spot Aruba 's large iguana, which grows as long as three feet. A vegetarian with a special fondness for blossoming hibiscus, the iguana is highly prized as a food delicacy. It's not just their dorsal crests and dinosaurian looks that make them so sought after as a table centerpiece: it's also the tastiness of the meat and the fact that the males--like all lizards--have two penes, which gives the dish a reputation as an aphrodisiac. Iguana meat is so highly prized it's usually offered to tourists sparingly, in a delicious soup.
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