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Aruba is an island in the Caribbean Sea, just a short distance north of the Venezuelan
Paraguaná
Peninsula, and it forms a part of the Kingdom
of the Netherlands. It is very dry, with little of the tropical vegetation that many expect in the Caribbean.
History
Main article: History of Aruba
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 on January 1, 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.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Aruba
Head of state is the ruling monarch of the Netherlands, who is represented in Aruba by a governor, appointed for a six-year term. The head of government is the prime minister who forms, together with the
Council of Ministers, the executive branch of the government.
They are elected by the parliament, the unicameral Legislature or Staten, which holds 21 seats. Members are elected by direct, popular vote to
serve four-year terms.
Geography
Main article: Geography of Aruba
Aruba is a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches. Its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds
from the Atlantic Ocean. Temperature is almost constant at about 27
degrees Celsius. The highest point in Aruba is Mount Jamanota, at 188 m
above sea level.
As a separate part of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands, the island has no administrative subdivisions. On the east are Curaçao and Bonaire, which form the southwest part of the Netherlands Antilles; the three islands are known collectively as
the ABC islands.
The local climate is a pleasant tropical marine clime. Little seasonal temperature
variation exists, which helps Aruba to be able to attract tourists all year round.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Aruba
About half of the Aruban Gross National Product is
earned with tourism or related activities. Most of the tourists are from the Americas, notably the United States
which is the country's largest trading partner. Oil processing is the dominant industry in Aruba, despite the expansion of the
tourism sector. The size of the agriculture and manufacturing industries remain minimal.
Deficit spending has been a staple in Aruba's history and modestly high inflation has been present as well, although recent
efforts at tightening monetary policy may correct this. Aruba receives large amounts of development aid from the Dutch government
each year. The Aruban guilder has a fixed exchange rate with the United States dollar of 1.79:1.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Aruba
A large percentage of Arubans are descendants of the African slaves that were
brought and traded here from the 17th to the 19th century, although this group often mixed with the native Indian population.
Although the official language is Dutch, Papiamento is predominant. This creole
language is formed from elements of Dutch, English, Spanish and Portuguese. Spanish and English are also spoken.
The majority of the population are followers of Christianity, and are mostly Roman Catholic.
Culture
Main article: Culture
of Aruba
The origins of the population and location of the island give Aruba a mixed culture. Dutch influence is can still be seen,
even though not much of the population is of Dutch origin. Tourism from the United States has recently also increased the
visibility of American culture on the island. Queen Beatrix International Airport, located near Oranjestad, Aruba, currently serves the whole island of Aruba. This airport has access to various
cities across the eastern U.S., from Houston, Texas to New York.
The holiday of Carnival is, like in many Caribbean and Latin American countries,
an important one.
Miscellaneous topics
- Communications in Aruba
- Transportation in Aruba
- Military of Aruba
- Foreign relations of Aruba
External links
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