3019 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Carnival in Aruba

3019 Carnival in Aruba

As it is in many Caribbean and Latin American countries, the holiday of Carnival is an important one in Aruba, and goes on for weeks. Its celebration in Aruba started, around the 1950s, influenced by the inhabitants from Venezuela and the nearby islands who came to work for the Oil refinery. Now, the Carnival Celebration starts from the beginning of January till the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday with a large parade on the last Sunday of the festivities (Sunday before Ash Wednesday).

3016 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - An Aruban girl

3016 An Aruban girl

The culture of Aruba is an amalgamate of the various cultures that have occupied and lived on the island, including indigenous peoples of South America, descendants of African slaves, and Spanish and Dutch colonialists. Even if the island has been under Dutch administration since 1636, and since 1986 is one of the four countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Spanish influence is very present in the traditions of the islanders.

3008 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Green iguana

3008 Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)

The green iguana (Iguana iguana) is a large, arboreal, mostly herbivorous species of lizard of the genus Iguana, which ranges over a large geographic area, from southern Brazil and Paraguay as far north as Mexico and the Caribbean Islands. They have been introduced from South America to Puerto Rico and are very common throughout the island, where they are considered an invasive species. It grows to 1.5 meters in length from head to tail, although a few specimens have grown more than 2 metres with bodyweights upward of 9 kg.

2999, 3005 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Trams in Oranjestad

2999 Oranjestad - The green single-decker trolley 1265 (1)

Posted on 25.03.2017, 31.03.2017
The Oranjestad Streetcar is a single-track tram line in Oranjestad, the capital city of Aruba, owned and operated by Arubus, the national public transportation company. It was built as a key component of a larger project to upgrade the main retail areas of the town, other aspects of which included pedestrianization of streets, planting of trees, installation of ornamental street lighting and resurfacing of streets and sidewalks. It is the first and so far the only passenger rail service on the island and the rest of the Dutch Caribbean, and the second of any kind, after an industrial branch that was closed in 1960.

2999 Oranjestad - The green single-decker trolley 1265 (2)

The line was inspired by the popular battery-powered streetcar operation at The Grove in Los Angeles. In 2010 Aruba's Minister of Infrastructure visited the California factory of TIG/m, the company that had designed the Los Angeles car, and before long TIG/m was constructing two streetcars, a single- and a double-decker, for Aruba. In 2012 Aruba's Prime Minister signed an agreement with Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin enterprises, to make Aruba the world's first 100% green economy by 2020.  

2989 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Charlie's Bar in San Nicolaas

2989 Charlie's Bar in San Nicolaas

Located at 19km southeast of Oranjestad and known as the island's Sunrise Side, San Nicolaas is Aruba's second largest city, with a population of 18,126. It was named after Nicolas van der Biest (1808-1873), who owned a big piece of the land there. Landowners were then addressed by their subordinates by their first names preceded by 'Shon' meaning 'master'. So he was called 'Shon Nicolas', as was the area. It is thought that the change from Shon Nicolas to San Nicolaas was due to the influence of Spanish.

2527 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Best of both worlds

 

The population of Aruba is estimated to be 75% mixed European/Amerindian, 15% Black and 10% other ethnicities. The Arawak heritage is stronger on Aruba than on most Caribbean islands. Although no full-blooded Aboriginals remain, the features of the islanders clearly indicate their genetic Arawak heritage. Most of the population is descended from Caquetio Indians and Dutch and to a lesser extent of Africans, Spanish, Portuguese, English, French, and Sephardic Jewish ancestors. Recently, there has been substantial immigration to the island from neighboring American and Caribbean nations.

1558, 2484 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Cunucu traditional houses

1558 A Cunuc traditional house in Aruba (1)

In Papiamento (the language derived from African and Portuguese languages, with some other influences, which is the most widely spoken language on ABC islands), Cunucu means "countryside" or "small plantation". In earlier days, the walls of the houses in Aruba were built from stone, without the use of mortar, the coral rocks being placed to a perfect fit. Often was used caliche, a crusty calcium substance found in the southeast hills of the island.

2484 A Cunuc traditional house in Aruba (2)

Slanting roofs allowed the heat to rise, while windows were kept small to keep in the cool. Although in nowadays concrete have replaced the older materials, the design has retained many basic elements found in the traditional houses, while adding other features such as windows which became longer though still narrow and comprised wooden louvers, introduction of patios and brightly tiled roofs as well as elaborate ornamentation for roofs , balconies and entrances.

2238 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Aruba Beach Club

2238 Aruba Beach Club

The Aruba Beach Club Resort is located directly on Punta Brabo Beach, also know as Manchebo Beach, one of the finest beaches in Aruba, located on the most western point of the island. The beach offers a combination of exciting waves, due to converging currents, and calm waters. Because the sand here stretches 110m from the shore to the hotels, congestion is never a problem. The white-powder sand is spectacular, but the surf is steady and brisk.

1904 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Alto Vista Chapel

1904 Alto Vista Chapel

Alto Vista Chapel is a small Catholic chapel also known as "Pilgrims Church" that stands on the hills above the north shore of the sea and to the northeast of the town of Noord, 8km from the California Lighthouse. The church painted on the outside in stark bright yellow colour makes it a conspicuous religious monument for people to visit. The present Chapel of Alto Vista was completed in 1952 and stands in the same location as the original chapel, that was built by Domingo Silvestre, the Venezuelan missionary from Santa Ana de Coro, Venezuela, in 1750.

1892 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Plaza Daniel Leo in Oranjestad

1892 Plaza Daniel Leo in Oranjestad

Located on the southern coast, near the western end of the island, Oranjestad, the capital and largest city of Aruba, had formed around Fort Zoutman shortly after it was built in 1796. Initially it had no official name, being known only as the town on the Bay of Horses (Paardenbaai in Dutch). Later was named after the first King Willem van Oranje-Nassau (William of Orange-Nassau) - the first heir to the Dutch House of Orange. The name was conferred on the city in the 1820s when interest in Aruba increased due to the discovery of (alluvial) gold deposits.

1836 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Paseo Herencia Mall

1836 Paseo Herencia Mall

Located in the area of Palm Beach, just walking distance from the high rise hotels, Paseo Herencia Mall is an old village style plaza surrounded by great shopping, dining and a state of the art cinema featuring nightly liquid fireworks shows and musical performances against a backdrop of a unique blend of Aruban architectural designs and an expose of Aruban Heritage. The central stage hosts regularly scheduled special presentations and community events throughout the year as well as the thrice-nightly “Waltzing Waters” presentation next to the pool that serves as home ground for Aruba’s synchronized swimming team.

1828 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - The Old Dutch Windmill

1828 The Old Dutch Windmill

Located near the Palm Beach, right where J.E. Irausquin Blvd makes a jug handle turn near the Aruba Butterfly Farm, this windmill is now a restaurant. It is an authentic Dutch windmill, built in 1804 in Friesland, Netherlands, originally used to drain water from low lying land, and later used as a grain mill. By 1929, two storms had damaged it to the point where it was useless and abandoned. In 1960 it was purchased by a private merchant, who had it carefully disassembled, shipped to Aruba, where was.reassembled.

1751 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Renaissance Island

1751 Renaissance Island

Renaissance Island is a 16 ha artificial island off the coast near Oranjestad, the capital and largest city of Aruba. It is privately owned and has the only private beaches on Aruba (Iguana Beach and Flamingo Beach), set aside for guests of the Renaissance Hotel and the Renaissance Suites. Because these hotels are located in the downtown harbor area of Oranjestad, they has purchased this island to offer their guests a sandy protected beach just off shore. A Beechcraft 18 and a Convair 400 were both deliberately sunk about 46m offshore to create a diving site. Flamingoes can be seen on the island.

1744 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Natural Bridge

1744 Natural Bridge

For thousands of years, pounding waves and strong winds have slowly chiseled away at the limestone cliffs along Aruba’s north coast to create several natural bridges. Before collapsing in 2005, the largest and most photographed of these bridges was the famous Natural Bridge between the Bushiribana gold mine ruins and Andicuri Beach. The natural arch, measuring approximately 7.6m high and 30m  long, was the remnant of an ancient cave.The remains of this bridge are still a tourist attraction in Aruba, with the adjacent intact Baby Bridge also meriting a visit.

1716 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Playa Linda Beach Resort

1716 Playa Linda Beach Resort

Aruba is a generally flat, with white sandy beaches on the western and southern coasts, relatively sheltered from fierce ocean currents. This is where most tourist development has occurred. Situated directly on the world renowned white sand Palm Beach, one of Aruba's finest and overlooking six miles of breathtaking Caribbean coastline, Playa Linda Beach Resort offers "all of the unspoiled pleasures of tropical island vacationing at it's best". Its highly-identifiable, many-tiered design has been a part of the island landscape for almost the entire length of Aruba’s tourism industry, and holds the distinction of being one of the island’s first timeshare options. The resort first opened its doors back in 1983.

1634, 1682 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - The caves in Arikok National Park

1634 Aruba - The Fontein Cave in Arikok National Park

Of the several caves of Aruba, three Aruban caves are well known, seen in deep crevices on the windward face of the island. All three of the caves (Guadirikiri Cave, Fontein Cave and Huliba Cave) are located in the Arikok National Park. Nocturnal bats nestle in all these caves. Located near Boca Prins, on the northern part of the island, the Fontein Cave is well known for its native Arawak drawings on the wall. The cave is accessible from an "escarpment of a terrace of coral limestone" and has a width of 3m and a height of 2metres. The entrance hall, which is open for visitors, is 4m in height and extends to a depth of 50m.

1682 Aruba - The Guadirikiri Cave in Arikok National Park

The Guadirikiri Cave (also known as Quadiriki Caves) has 150m in length and is notable for its two large dome-shaped chambers which are illuminated with sunlight through holes in the ceiling. In order to preserve the natural habitat of the cave for the bats to breed, the three one of the caves is barred for visitors. A folk tale relates to a daughter of an Indian chief who fell in love and was imprisoned in the cave as her paramour was not acceptable to her father. Her beloved one was imprisoned nearby, in Huliba Cave (Tunnel of Love), but both lovers managed to meet underground. Both reportedly died in the cave and their spirit vanished into heaven through the holes in the roof of the cave.

1624 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Jolly Roger in Aruba

1624 Jolly Roger in Aruba

Jolly Roger is the traditional English name for the flags flown to identify a pirate ship about to attack during the early 18th century. The flag most commonly identified as the Jolly Roger today, the skull and crossbones symbol on a black flag, was used during the 1710s by a number of pirate captains including "Black Sam" Bellamy, Edward England, and John Taylor and it went on to become the most commonly used pirate flag during the 1720s. In nowadays, among others, is the name of a company in Aruba, who organizes trips with vessels for swim and snorkel at three site: Boca Catalina, Arashi Reefs and the famous 400 ft WWII shipwreck Antilla.

1310 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - The Casibari Boulders

1310 The Casibari Boulders

 

Near Ayo village, about 3.2 km from the natural bridge towards Casibari (now defunct) are located the monolithic rock boulders named Ayo Rock Formations. The Arawak people, the earliest settlers on the island of Aruba, used to visit this formations and carved paintings in rocks called petroglyphs while performing religious rites. One of the unusual and notable rock formations is the Casibari Boulders, which are tonalite rocks seen to the north of Hooiberg.

1257, 1258 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - Divi-Divi Trees on Eagle Beach

1257 Divi-Divi Trees on Eagle Beach (1)

Mostly flat, with only a few hills, and without inland water, Aruba isn't the stereotypical tropical island of lush, steamy forests and constant rains. Its best-known geographical feature is its white-sand beaches, which are the basis of an active tourism industry. One of these beaches, considered by many one of the best beaches in the world is Eagle Beach, known also as home of two of the most photographed and renowned divi-divi trees in Aruba, with its trademark silhouette pointing in the direction of the Caribbean.

1258 Divi-Divi Trees on Eagle Beach (2)

The Divi-Divi Tree (Caesalpinia coriaria), called Watapana in the Arawak language, is an endemic bush in the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao), which rarely reaches a height of 9 m, and is permanently bent, at nearly a right angle, with Medusa-like branches seemingly swept back by the wind. It is Aruba's natural compass, always pointing in a southwesterly direction due to the trade winds that blow across the island from the north-east. All attempts to plant this tree in other parts of the world have proved futile. That is why divi-divi is the national tree of Curaçao, and is also very common and popular on Aruba.

1152-1154, 1234, 1235 NETHERLANDS (Aruba) - The map of Aruba

Located about 1,600km west of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea and 27km north of the coast of Venezuela, Aruba forms, together with Bonaire and Curaçao, a group referred to as the ABC islands. On the other hand, Aruba and the other Dutch islands in the Caribbean are often called the Netherlands Antilles or the Dutch Caribbean. It is one of the four constituent countries that form the Kingdom of the Netherlands, along with the Netherlands (which comprises not only the European land, but also Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba), Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

 

A generally flat, it lies outside the hurricane belt, and, unlike much of the Caribbean region, has a dry climate and an arid, cactus-strewn landscape. It has white sandy beaches on the western and southern coasts of the island, relatively sheltered from fierce ocean currents. The population is estimated to be 80% mixed Black/White/Caribbean Amerindian and 20% other ethnicities, and the Arawak heritage is stronger on Aruba than on most Caribbean islands. The official languages are Dutch and - since 2003 - Papiamento, a language derived from African and Portuguese languages with some influences from American Indian languages, English, Dutch and Spanish.

Aruba's first inhabitants were Caquetíos Amerinds from the Arawak tribe, who migrated there from Venezuela, and Europeans first learned of it following the explorations by Amerigo Vespucci and Alonso de Ojeda. Because it had low rainfall, it was not considered profitable for the plantation system and the economics of the slave trade. Since 1636, it has been under Dutch administration, which left the Arawaks to farm and graze livestock, and used the island as a source of meat for other Dutch possessions in the Caribbean.

Aruba has one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean region, its economy being dominated by tourism, gold mining, phosphate mining, aloe export, and petroleum refining. About three quarters of its gross national product is earned through tourism or related activities. The capital and largest city of Aruba is Oranjestad (Orange Town), located on the southern coast near the western end of the island. The town was built around Fort Zoutman shortly after it was built in 1796, and was named in 1820 after the first King Willem van Oranje-Nassau (William of Orange-Nassau) - the first heir to the Dutch House of Orange.