Aruba

Aruba => is a Caribbean island 15 miles north of the coast of Venezuela. The island is an autonymous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is 19.6 miles (30 kilometers) long and 6 miles (9 kilometers) across, at its widest point, with an area of approximately 70 square miles (184 square kilometers). This flat, riverless island is renowned for its white sand beaches. Its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean. The temperature is almost constant at about 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit).

Regions

From the tourist point of view, Aruba can be considered to be divided into the southeast and northwest coasts. The southeast has the white sand beaches, turquoise seas, and warm waters. The northwest coast, exposed to the Atlantic, has a few white sand beaches, rough seas with treacherous currents and rocky coastline.

Cities

• Oranjestad - Capital
• Barcadera
• Noord
• Paradera
• Savaneta
• Sint Nicolaas

Understand

Climate

Tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation. Because of its location south in the Caribbean there is very strong sun, but a constant breeze keeps the temperature pleasant.

Terrain

The island is flat with a few hills, arrid with scant vegetation and neglible natural resources other than white sandy beaches.

History

Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceeded from the Netherlands Antilles (Bonaire and Curacao, the ABC-Islands)in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

National holiday

Flag Day, 18 March

Constitution

1 January 1986

Time Zone

Atlantic Standard Time (AST) one hour ahead of New York except during Daylight Savings when the time is the same

Electricity

Officially 120V 60Hz, which is identical to the U.S. and Canadian standard. Outlets are North American NEMA 5-15 grounded outlets, identical to standard U.S. and Canadian wall outlets. Occasionally non-grounded NEMA 1-15 outlets may be found. Non-grounded outlets do not accept the third, round pin present on grounded plugs. Adapters are available to allow equipment with grounded (three-pin) plugs to plug into non-grounded outlets while avoiding the otherwise necessary step of cutting the grounding pin off of the plug.

Additionally, U.S. and Canadian outlets are polarized. Polarized means that one of the two vertical blades is taller/wider than the other. This is a safety feature which restricts a non-grounded plug from being inserted into an outlet "upside down". Older North American outlets found in much of Central and South America, the Caribbean and other areas may not be polarized. As such, polarized plugs may not fit into non-polarized outlets. To remedy this, the wider vertical blade on a polarized plug may be filed down to match the width of the other. Otherwise, adapters are available which accept a polarized plug and adapt it for use with a non-polarized outlet.

Get in

By plane

Aruba does not have a national airline. American Airlines is a popular carrier that schedules flights from many US and international cities to Aruba's Queen Beatrix Airport. Other major carriers from the US include United, US Air, Continental and Delta. Air 2000 flies charter flights from the UK, and KLM flights to Amsterdam connect to most of the rest of Europe.

By train

By car

By bus

By boat

Talk

Languages

Dutch (official), Papiamento, (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch dialect), Spanish & English(widely spoken)

Eat

Stoba di Bestia Chiquito- a hearty goat meat and vegetable stew Keshi Yena- chicken or seafood with Dutch cheese

Sleep

• Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino Tel: 011 297 5 836000 Fax: 011 297 5 834389 . The all-new Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino features 558 newly renovated rooms and suites and the finest amenities and activities on Aruba. Two distinctive lodging options at this Aruba hotel offer both style and a tropical elegance. The Renaissance Marina Hotel is a hip destination for couples and the Renaissance Ocean Suites is perfect for families. Both Aruba resort options have pools or you can enjoy the 40-acres of private beach on Renaissance Island, which features inviting hammocks, a casual restaurant and bar, and many sporting activities. For a special treat, book a massage at our exclusive Spa Cove on the Island. Spa Cove includes a private cabana with a 2-person lounge chair and 2-person hammock. Aruba's best shopping; dining, casinos, and nightlife are all at the Renaissance Aruba Resort. For groups, the Renaissance Convention Center offers 22,000 sq ft of function space as well as special themed events on Renaissance Island. The Renaissance Aruba Resort is a Caribbean vacation from the ordinary.

• Wyndham Aruba Resort, Spa and Casino J.E. Irausquin Blvd 77. Tel: 011 297 5 864466. Fax: 011 297 5 868217. The Wyndham Aruba Beach Resort & Casino is the perfect island destination offering the charm of the Dutch Caribbean, a magnificent beach, glittering casino and a host of outdoor pleasures.

Respect

Nature is very cherished by the Aruban people. 18% of their island is dedicated to the Arikok National Park.

Aruba Tourism Authority L.G. Smith Blvd. 172 Eagle, Aruba Dutch Caribbean Phone: International code +(297) 582-3777 Fax: International code +(297) 583-4702 ata.aruba@aruba.com

---- The rest of this article is an from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a real Wikitravel country article according to our . Please and integrate it into the article above. ----

Geography

Geographic coordinates

12 30 N, 69 58 W

Area

total: 193 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 193 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Coastline

68.5 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 NM

Land use

arable land: 10.53% (including aloe 0.01%)
permanent crops: 0%
other: 89.47% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land

0.01 sq km (1998 est.)

People

Population

70,441 (July 2002 est.)

Nationality

noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch

Ethnic groups

mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%

Religions

Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish

Government

Dependency status

part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

Government type

parliamentary democracy

Legal system

based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence

Flag description

blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner

Economy

Economy - overview

Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and low unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years. The government's goal of balancing the budget within two years will hamper expenditures, as will the decline in stopover tourist arrivals following the 11 September terrorist attacks.

Labor force

41,501

Labor force - by occupation

most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining

Industries

tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Agriculture - products

aloes; livestock; fish

Exports - commodities

live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment

Imports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs

Currency

Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)

Currency code

AWG

Exchange rates

Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.7900 (fixed rate since 1986)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use

33,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

3,402 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: NA
domestic: more than adequate
international: 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

50,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1997)

Televisions

20,000 (1997)

Internet country code

.aw

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Internet users

24,000 (2002)

Transportation

Highways

total: 800 km
paved: 513 km
note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large tracts of the interior (1995)
unpaved: 287 km

Airports

1 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2002)

Transnational Issues

Illicit drugs

transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity

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