Aruba: Background & Geography
| Introduction | Aruba |
|
Background:
|
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 seceded from the Netherlands Antilles 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. |
| Geography | Aruba |
|
Location:
|
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela |
|
Geographic coordinates:
|
12 30 N, 69 58 W |
|
Map references:
|
Central America and the Caribbean |
|
Area:
|
total: 193 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 193 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
slightly larger than Washington, DC |
|
Land boundaries:
|
0 km |
|
Coastline:
|
68.5 km |
|
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
|
territorial sea: 12 NM |
|
Climate:
|
tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation |
|
Terrain:
|
flat with a few hills; scant vegetation |
|
Elevation extremes:
|
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m |
|
Natural resources:
|
NEGL; white sandy beaches |
|
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.) |
|
Natural hazards:
|
lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt |
|
Environment - current issues:
|
NA |
|
Geography - note:
|
a flat, riverless island 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) |