Best of Mike #152

Pretty much the whole north end of the island of Bonaire is a National Park.

Over a century ago, two plantations stood on the land that is the present day park. They were called Washington and Slagbaai.... their owners exported goats, cattle, aloe, salt and charcoal.

Both plantations had harbors that welcomed boats from nearby islands, such as Curacao.... and from as far away as Holland. 

The original park was formed in 1969 from the land that had been the Washington plantation. In 1979, the land from Slagbaai, was added. You can still see the fence that once separated the two plantations.

Visitors will notice a dramatic difference between the landscape of Washington, in the north, and Slagbaai in the south.

Vegetation is sparse in Washington, mainly cacti and low shrubs.... due to soil that is predominantly limestone and the salt laden trade winds that blow over the area. Any seedlings that do land here and take root.... are soon eaten by the goats that still forage freely in the northern part of the park.

Slagbaai, however is closed to goats (a fence keeps them out), is protected from the wind by a series of hills and has a more fertile soil.... so the vegetation there is more lush. 

Slagbaai, means slaughter.... in the past cattle were slaughtered here before the meat was loaded aboard the ships, giving this area it's name.
Pictured above is the flower of an aloe plant.... or at least part of the flower of an aloe plant. I was standing a good distance away on a hill and still couldn't get the whole thing in my pixture.

They grow straight up from the center to the plant to enormous height.... I would say 20 or 30 ft isn't out of the question.