Aruba

Aruba

AREA	193 sq km (74.5 sq miles).
POPULATION	87,971 (1996).
POPULATION DENSITY	455.8 per sq km.
CAPITAL	Oranjestad.
CAPITAL POPULATION	20,046 (1991).
GEOGRAPHY	Aruba is the smallest island in the Leeward group of the Dutch Caribbean islands, which also include Bonaire and Curaçao. They are popularly known as the ABCs. As the westernmost island of the group, Aruba is the final link in the long Antillean chain, lying 20km (12.5 miles) off the Venezuelan coast. The island is 30km (19.6 miles) long and 9km (6 miles) across at its widest and has a flat landscape dominated by Jamanota Mountain (188m/617ft). The west and southwest coast, known as Palm Beach, boasts 11km (7 miles) of palm-fringed powder-white sands, while in complete contrast the east coast has a desolate, windswept shoreline of jagged rocks carved into weird shapes by the pounding surf.
GOVERNMENT	Dependency of the Netherlands. In 1986 Aruba separated from the rest of the Netherlands Antilles. Head of State: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, represented locally by Governor Olindo Koolman since 1992. Head of Government: Prime Minister Jan Hendrik Eman since 1994.
LANGUAGE	The official language is Dutch. English and Spanish are also spoken. The islanders also speak Papiamento, which is a combination of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, English and Indian languages.
RELIGION	80% of the population are Roman Catholic.
STANDARD TIME	GMT - 4.
ELECTRICITY	110 volts AC, 60Hz.

Posted in: countries