Aruba
Aruba is an island and a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the southern Caribbean Sea, located about 1,600 kilometers (990 mi) west of the main part of the Lesser Antilles and 29 kilometers (18 mi) north of the coast of Venezuela. It measures 32 kilometers (20 mi) long from its northwestern to its southeastern end and 10 kilometers (6 mi) across at its widest point.
Together with Bonaire and Curaçao, Aruba forms a group referred to as the ABC islands. Collectively, Aruba and the other Dutch islands in the Caribbean are often called the Dutch Caribbean. Aruba is one of the four countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands, along with the Netherlands, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten; the citizens of these countries are all Dutch nationals. Aruba has no administrative subdivisions, but, for census purposes, is divided into eight regions. Its capital is Oranjestad.
Unlike much of the Caribbean region, Aruba has a dry climate and an arid, cactus-strewn landscape. This climate has helped tourism as visitors to the island can reliably expect warm, sunny weather. It has a land area of 179 km2 (69.1 sq mi) and is densely populated, with a total of 102,484 inhabitants at the 2010 Census. It lies outside Hurricane Alley.
Believe it or not, in 1513 when the Spanish colonists settled in the ABC islands which are Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, they nicknamed them the "Islas Inútiles," or Useless Islands. Today visitors know this label couldn’t have been further from the truth. Centuries later, Aruba uses its arid climate and minimal rainfall to lure tourists with its power soft white beaches and craggy limestone landscape. Boasting excellent underwater visibility, this island is a preferred destination for divers looking to explore buried wrecks and magnificent coral reefs.
