NOTE: This story originally said the bananas were from Cuba. The origin of the bananas could not be verified, so the reference has been removed.

November 8, 2007—On the Dutch island of Terschelling, beaches are often awash in treasures—like the bunches of bananas that floated ashore this week (top photo).

It was sneakers (bottom photo) and aluminum briefcases in February 2006. The shore was covered with sweaters before that.

The island was molded into its current shape by a violent storm in 1296, according to its official web site. Things have been washing ashore ever since.

This week's boon comes from six banana crates that fell off a cargo ship during a recent storm.

Local beachcombers came early Wednesday for a look, said Gossen Buren, a shipping official at the local lighthouse, according to the Associated Press.

"But not as many as when we had the sneakers," he said.

One of the West Frisian Islands, Terschelling lies about 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of Amsterdam.

It is surrounded by pockets of polder—land previously under water—and a deceptive sea that has been stealing cargo for centuries, sometimes capsizing ships

For the moment the island has more bananas than it can use.

"I think everybody on the island has a bunch now," Buren said.

Some locals had suggested sending the extra bananas to nearby zoos, he added.

—Rebecca Carroll

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