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 peculiar shapes by the pounding surf.


HISTORY

The Arawak Indians were the original settlers in Aruba, when they fled there to avoid the Caribe Indians. Alonso de Ojeda "discoverd" Aruba in 1499 and claimed it for Spain. The Spainards considered the island worthless and basically abandoned it. In 1634, the Dutch fleet took over Aruba pretty much un-opposed and appointed a Govenor to oversee the Netherland Antilles in 1643.Except for a brief period in the early 19th century, when the British took possession, Aruba has remained under Dutch jurisdiction since.

On Januray 1,1986, Aruba achieved internal autonomy from the rest of the Netherland Antilles. This allows Aruba to govern their own island, yet still remain a part of the Netherlands.

CLIMATE

The weather in Aruba is as close to perfect as you can get. The average high temperature ranges between 85-89 degrees Farenheit (that's for the entire year) with lows ranging between 76 and 80 degrees. The average rainfall is less then 20 inches a year. The island also has an almost constant windflow that keeps it from getting too hot.