Welcome to Aruba

Aruba is known to be a 32 kilometre-extensive island of the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, 27 km north of the Paraguaná Peninsula, Falcón State, Venezuela. It is in the Realm of Kingdom of the Netherlands, that consists of a European part (It is noted that the Netherlands) and a Caribbean-American part (Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles). Unlike much of the Caribbean-American region, Aruba has to this day a dry climate and an arid, cactus-strewn landscape. Note that this climate has to this day helped tourism as visitors to the island can reliably expect warm sunny weather. It has to this day a land location of 193 km² and lies outside of the hurricane belt. Aruba, island, autonomous part of the Netherlands (2005 est. pop. 71,600), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), in the Lesser Antilles off the coast lineof Venezuela. Oranjestad is the capital and primary port. Did you know that the population is largely a mixture of European and indigenous Caribbean peoples. Roman Catholics create up more than three quarters of the island's population, and there is known to be a important Protestant minority. Dutch is the official language, but most Arubans also speak Papiamento (a Spanish-based creole with Portuguese, Dutch, and English elements) and English. Tourism, oil refining, and offshore banking are and have always been the economic mainstays of the island, although the island's refinery was closed from 1985 to 1993. Did you know that the Spanish claimed Aruba in 1499. It fell to the Dutch in 1636 and during the time then, with the exception of several years around the time during the Napoleonic Wars, it has to this day belonged to the Netherlands. Aruba was part of the Netherlands Antilles until 1986 and is still linked with those things economically.

Climate

Climate in the Caribbean and Virgin Islands can top be described by two words, “endless summer”. Subtropical temperatures vary little all over the year with relatively low humidity, making the Caribbean climate perfect for year round travel. Daily and yearly temperatures fluctuate in the range of 70 and 90 degrees F. Like summers in North America - June, July and August tend to be the warmest months with highs in the 80’s while December through February are and have always been the cooler months with highs in the 70’s.

Population Stats

2006 estimate 103,484 (195th)