Aruba
Dependency of the Netherlands
Area: 75 sq mi (193 sq km) / World Rank: 197
Location: Northern and Western Hemispheres, in the southern Caribbean Sea off the north coast of the South American continent
Coordinates: 12° 30′ N, 69°58 W
Borders: No international boundaries
Coastline: 42.6 mi (68.5 km)
Territorial Seas: 12 NM (22 km
Highest Point: Mount Jamanota, 617 ft (188 m)
Lowest Point: Sea level
Longest Distances: 18.6 mi (30 km) NW-SW / 5 mi (8km) SW-NE
Longest River: None
Natural Hazards: None
Population: 70,007 (July 2001 est.) / World Rank: 190
Capital City: Oranjestad, on northwest coast
Largest City: Oranjestad (20,046, 1991 est.
OVERVIEW
Aruba is a Caribbean island about the size of Washington, D.C located 15 mi (25 km) north of the coast of Venezuela and 42 mi (68 km) northwest of Curaçao, the largest island of the Netherlands Antilles. Aruba’s terrain is mostly flat with a few hills. There is little in the way of vegetation or outstanding physical features and no inland water. Aruba’s best-known geographical feature is its white-sand beaches, which are the basis of an active tourism industry that is the mainstay of the island’s economy. Aruba is situated on the Caribbean Tectonic Plate.The island is made up of limestone-capped hills and ridges, with cliffs on the northern and northeastern coasts and coral reefs on the southern coast.
INLAND WATERWAYS
Aruba has no inland waterways.
THE COAST, ISLANDS, AND THE OCEAN
The Coast and Beaches Aruba has three deepwater harbors located at Oranjestad, Barcadera, and San Nicolas (Sint Nicolaas). The coastal area is known for its white-sand beaches and the calm waters surrounding Aruba are clear, making it a popular tourist destination.
CLIMATE AND VEGETATION
Temperature
Aruba’s tropical marine climate varies little seasonally, with an average annual temperature of 81°F (27°C), varying from about 78°F (26°C) in January to 84°F (29°C) in July.
Rainfall
Most rain brought by the prevailing easterly winds of the region falls on the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, leaving Aruba with a very dry climate. Rainfall averages 20 in (51 cm) or less annually, and the island’s residents rely on one of the world’s largest desalination plants for most of their drinking water. The rainy season
occurs between October and December.
Forests and Other Vegetation
Aruba has little vegetation. Due to the island’s scant rainfall only hardy, drought-resistant tree, shrub, and
cactus species can survive, and there is no arable land.
