Aruba - General Facts and Information

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OUR LOCATION

Aruba is located to the north of Venezuela in the southern Caribbean. The island is 19.6 miles (30 kilometers) long and 6 miles (9 kilometers) across, at its widest point, with a land area of approximately 70 square miles (184 square kilometers). This flat island with few hills is a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

OUR GOVERNMENT

Aruba’s system of Government is based on Western democratic principles. The Governor is appointed by the Queen of the Kingdom for a term of six years and acts as the sovereign’s representative on the island. The Legislature consists of a 21-member parliament, elected by popular vote for a four-year term of office while the Council of Ministers, presided over by the Prime Minister, forms the executive power.

OUR PEOPLE

Aruba’s population is reported to be about 100,000 inhabitants. Most of the inhabitants are of mixed ancestry with Caquetio Indian, African and European roots. However Aruba boasts over 40 different nationalities, which live and work peacefully on the island. Dutch is the official language of Aruba but Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English and Spanish are also spoken.

CLIMATE

Aruba has a dry climate moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean. It lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and the temperature is almost constant at about 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit).

CURRENCY

The official currency of Aruba is the Aruban florin, which is divided into 100 cents. Silver coins are in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents, one florin, 2 1/2 florins and 5 florins. The square shaped 50-cent “yotin” coin is probably Aruba’s bestknown coin.

The florin fluctuates with the dollar on the world market. Current exchange rates are Af. 1.80 to the U.S. Dollar and Af. 1.84 to the Canadian Dollar. U.S. dollars are widely accepted in Aruba, and banks may exchange other foreign currency

Flora, Fauna & Sea Life

On the south and west coasts are miles of pristine white beaches that rank among the most beautiful in the world while the northeast coast, along the windward shore, is rugged and wild.

The interior is desert like with a variety of cacti and dramatic rock formations. The island’s most famous trees are the watapana, or divi-divi trees, all permanently sculpted into graceful, southwest-bending shapes by the constant trade winds.

Herons, egrets and gulls are among the birds to be found on the island while the waters around Aruba consist of wahoo, shark, barracuda, kingfish, bonito, blackfin and yellowfin tuna.

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