FACTS ABOUT ARUBA

AMAZING FACTS ABOUT ARUBA

1.                 Oranjestad is the capital city of Aruba.

2.                 The total population of Aruba is 113,648.

3.                 The natives of Aruba are called Arubans.

4.                 The Aruban florin (AWG) is official currency of Aruba.

5.                 Aruba is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located in the southern Caribbean Sea.

6.                 The flag of Aruba, as well as its official anthem, “Aruba Dushi Tera,” were adopted on March 18, 1976.

7.                 The island is located 15 miles north of Venezuela.

8.                 Alonso de Ojeda became the first European to land on the island in 1499.

9.                 Before the Europeans took control of the island, it (Aruba) was inhabited by its indigenous population.

10.            Aruba is famous for its white-sand beaches.

11.            The Aruba International Film Festival welcomes filmmakers and film enthusiasts from around the world. The festival is internationally renowned.

12.            Aruba was declared a useless island because of its absence of natural resources, including precious metals.

13.            For a period of 108 years between 1816 and 1924, the population of the island increased from a mere 1,732 to 9,021.

14.            The first chapel of Aruba was built in 1750.

15.            Every year in June, Aruba hosts the Hi-Winds Amateur World Challenge windsurfing tournament. Without a doubt, Aruba is one of the most popular spots on earth for windsurfers.

16.            The island has plenty of baseball lovers, as well. The tiny country has also produced some of the best athletes on the world stage.

17.            People from more than 90 nationalities can be found in Aruba. Thus, you have a good chance of meeting someone from your country if you happen to visit this island nation.

18.            By 1984, tourism took center stage of the Aruban economy, backed by consistent efforts from the government.

19.            The GDP of the country more than doubled between 1987 and 1992 because of the improvements made in the tourism business.

20.            18 percent of Aruba’s land area lies within Arikok National Park.

21.            Four countries, including Aruba, form the kingdom of the Netherlands. The other three countries are: Netherlands, Curacao and Saint Maarten.

22.            The nationality of the citizens of Aruba is Dutch, which is also the nationality of the citizens of the other three countries in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

23.            Foreigners can obtain Dutch nationality by marrying Arubans (marriages for the sake of acquiring nationality are called “fake marriages”).

24.            Fort Zoutman is Aruba’s oldest building. It was built in 1798 to protect Oranjestad from pirates.

25.            The holiday of Carnaval is also an important one in Aruba.

26.            The legal drinking age in Aruba is 18 for beer, wine, and spirits.

27.            Aruba’s first multi-story resort hotel–the Caribbean Hotel–opened in 1959.

28.            Littering laws are quite strict in the island nation. So be careful and do not throw empty bottles of beer or wine on the beaches!

29.            Aruba does not have any significant natural sources of fresh water. You can drink Aruba’s tap water without any worries, as it is supplied from a saltwater desalination plant.

30.            Today, it is a densely populated country with limited land resources and a huge population.

31.            Most Arubans are multilingual, and are able to communicate in English and Spanish, as well.

32.            While on the island, dial 911 if you require an ambulance and 100 for police.

33.            The license plate of Aruban cars is adorned with their slogan – ‘One happy Island.’ Aruba still issues new plates every year – possibly because of the value of used plate sales to tourists.

34.            Aruba was a Spanish colony for at least 100 years.

35.            The Aruban currency has images of the rattlesnake and the owl.

36.            Aruba does not utilize Daylight Saving Time.

37.            Aruba sees an average annual temperature of 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit).

38.            Foreign workers are restricted to three years residency on the island. This immigration law was enforced in 2007 to restrict population growth.

39.            Officially, Aruba is not a part of the European Union.

40.            Tourism, aloe exports, and petroleum refining dominate the island’s economy.

41.            The official currency of Aruba is Aruban florin. However, many businesses operate using U.S. dollars instead of florins because of a large number of American visitors to the island. You can pay in U.S. dollars at hotels and resorts on the island.

42.            Aruba Exports: live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment and transport equipment.

43.            Aruba Imports: machinery and electrical equipment, refined oil, chemicals and foodstuffs.

44.            The internet country code for Aruba is .aw.