Arashi Beach

{{Short description|Beach in Aruba}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox landform | name = Arashi Beach | native_name = | other_name = | type = Beach  | image = 20190428 Arashi beach Aruba - overview.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption =  | pushpin_map = Aruba | map_width = | map_caption = Location in Aruba | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_relief = | pushpin_label = | pushpin_label_position = left | mark = | marker_size = | mapframe = no | coordinates = {{coord|12|36|34|N|70|3|11|W|display=inline, title}} | coordinates_ref =  | location = Noord, Aruba, Netherlands | grid_ref = | range = | part_of = | water_bodies =  | age = | orogeny = | formed_by = | geology =  | etymology = | nickname = | authority =  | operator =  | area =  | area_km2 = | area_mi2 = | area_ref =  | length =  | width =  | depth =  | drop =  | height =   | elevation =  | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | elevation_ref = | surface_elevation =  | surface_elevation_m = | surface_elevation_ft = | surface_elevation_ref = | highest_point = | highest_elevation = | highest_coords =   | website =  | embedded = }}

'''Arashi Beach''' (also spelled '''Arasji''') is a white-sand beach on the northwestern tip of Aruba, in the Noord region. It is located near the settlement of Malmok and the California Lighthouse. The beach's calm waters are popular among sightseers, swimmers, and snorkelers.

== Etymology == Arashi is a toponym of indigenous origin. One possible etymology is that Arashi is derived from the singular form ''warashi'', meaning "bonefish" in Papiamento. Arashi is one of the best locations in Aruba to catch bonefish, which was an important part of the indigenous Caquetio diet.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Buurt |first=Gerard Van |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275519244_Caquetio_Indians_on_Curacao_during_colonial_times_and_Caquetio_words_in_the_Papiamentu_Language |title=Caquetío Indians on Curaçao during colonial times and Caquetío words in the Papiamentu Language |publisher=Fundashon pa Planifikashon di Idioma & University of Curaçao |year=2014 |language=en |doi=10.13140/RG.2.1.3883.6649 |archive-date=22 April 2023 |access-date=22 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422232831/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275519244_Caquetio_Indians_on_Curacao_during_colonial_times_and_Caquetio_words_in_the_Papiamentu_Language |url-status=live }}</ref>

Another possibility is that Arashi is a bastardized form of ''arasi'' or ''araci'', in which case the components ''ara'' and ''ci'' would mean "people" and "head", respectively. In this case, the name Arashi would then have the meaning of "head of the people" or "people's head".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Frank |first=Vivienno L. |title=Aruba en een keuze uit haar toponiemen |trans-title=Aruba and a selection of its toponyms |year=2019 |isbn=978-0-359-65900-5 |location=Aruba |pages=59 |language=nl}}</ref>

== Location == Arashi Beach is located on the northwestern tip of Aruba. Administratively, it is part of the Noord region.<ref>{{cite web |title=Arashi |url=https://www.visitaruba.com/things-to-do/aruba-beaches/arashi-beach/ |website=VisitAruba.com |access-date=10 June 2025 |language=en}}</ref> The settlement of Malmok and the historic California Lighthouse are within walking distance of the beach.<ref name="Wonders">{{cite web|url=https://wondersofaruba.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-arashi-beach/|title=Everything You Need to Know About Arashi Beach|website=Wonders of Aruba|access-date=9 June 2025|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501150121/https://wondersofaruba.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-arashi-beach/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Tourism == Arashi Beach is a popular destination for tourists because of its calm waters and scenic beach. The beach is a favoured spot to watch the sunset or pelicans diving for fish; the former activity has earned Aruba's northern coast the nickname "the Gold Coast". There is also shelter from the sun in the form of free-to-use thatched beach huts called ''palapas''. The reef off the southern coast of Arashi Beach is frequented by snorkelers, while fishing is commonplace in the rocky areas nearby.<ref name="Wonders"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cMM_yrOxqZkC&dq=%22arashi+beach%22&pg=PA468|title=Caribbean & the Bahamas|last=Henderson|first=James|date=2005|publisher=Cadogan Guides|isbn=9781860112126|language=en|access-date=3 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705233153/https://books.google.ca/books?id=cMM_yrOxqZkC&pg=PA468&dq=%22arashi+beach%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwikib3LsrfbAhVM4IMKHa95Ba0QuwUINTAC|archive-date=5 July 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Preservation == Arashi Beach is a part of the Aruba Reef Care Project, an annual eco-awareness campaign to clean up reefs, shallow waters, and public beaches. The Foundation for Environmental Education has given Arashi Beach a "blue flag" certification, meaning the beach has met particular quality, safety, and public educational standards.<ref name="Wonders"/>

== Transportation == Arashi Beach is accessible by car and public transport. Arubus Route L10 provides a direct route to the beach, which has a parking lot next to it.<ref name="Wonders"/>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://www.aruba.com/us/explore/arashi-beach Arashi Beach – Official Aruba Tourism Portal] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110723000522/http://www.aruba.com/TraveltoAruba/Blue_Flag_Program.aspx Aruba Beach and the Marina Blue Flag Program]

Category:Beaches of Aruba