Aruba
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry information - Aruba
Country name - conventional long form : none
Country name - conventional short form : Aruba
Country name - local long form :
Country name - local short form :
Country name - former :
Country code : AA
Government type : parliamentary democracy
Capital - name : Oranjestad
Capital - time difference : UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Flag Day, 18 March (1976)
Population :
Nationality - noun : Aruban(s)
Nationality - adjective : Aruban; Dutch
Languages : Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) 66.3%, Spanish 12.6%, English (widely spoken) 7.7%, Dutch (official) 5.8%, other 2.2%, unspecified or unknown 5.3% (2000 census)
Currency (code) : Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
Currency code : AWG
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk :
Major infectious diseases - note :
Aruba is located Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela. The climate is tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation. The terrain is flat with a few hills; scant vegetation.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.
