Aruba The sun, the white sandy beaches, our nightlife, shopping, casinos, golf, sailing, spas, dinners and more
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Aruba
Government
Country name: Aruba
Dependency status: Member country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
Government type: Parliamentary democracy
Capital: Oranjestad
Geog...raphic coordinates: 12 31 N, 70 02 W
Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
National holiday: Flag Day, 18 March (1976)
Constitution: 1 January 1986
Legal system: Based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: Chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980); represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004)
Head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001)
Aruba
Economy Overview:
Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Over 1.5 million tourists per year visit Aruba, with 75%... of those from the US. Construction continues to boom, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the country's oil refinery reopened in 1993, providing a major source of employment, foreign exchange earnings, and growth. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The island experiences only a brief low season, and hotel occupancy in 2004 averaged 80%, compared to 68% throughout the rest of the Caribbean. The government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high priority.
Aruba
Geography:
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 - Land: 193 sq km - Water: 0 sq km
Area comparative: Slightly larger than Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 68.5 km
Mari...time claims: 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:White sandy beaches
Land use: Arable land: 10.53% - Permanent crops: 0% - Other: 89.47% (2005)
Irrigated land: 0.01 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: Hurricanes; lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt and is rarely threatened
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 Atlanti
