Aruba

Lying just 24km/15mi north of Venezuela, Aruba is known for its white sandy beaches, as well as its Dutch Colonial architecture in Oranjestad, the capital. The persistent winds keep humidity low and the year-round temperature at an average of 27C/81F. The winds are also responsible for the strangely bent divi-divi trees around the island. Aruba also has unusual rock formations, Indian caves and a natural rock bridge. Vegetation on this desert island consists of cactus, aloe vera, kiwi and sea grape.

There are many opportunities for snorkeling and diving. Visibility in the water can be as far as 27m/90ft, and the water temperature is rarely under 21C/70F. Rainfall is less than 20cm/8in per year, with most of that precipitation occurring from October to December when the winds abate. Arawak Indians originally inhabited the island, and one may still see their painted symbols in the caves on the island. Aruba's museums also exhibit remnants of the Indians' past. The Spanish took the island at the end of the 15th C. During the Eight Years' War in 1636, the Dutch took Aruba. The architecture on the island shows a mingling of these two cultures.

Gold mining took place on Aruba from 1824 until 1913 when the ore was exhausted, but the abandoned mine and the ruined mill are still standing.

Dutch is the official language in Aruba, but most people speak English. One may also hear the citizens speaking Papiamento, a dialect consisting of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and English. In 1986 Aruba became an independent entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.