Aruba Island falls in the south of the Caribbean region in the Caribbean Sea. It is part of the West Indies and close to Venezuela. Bonaire and Curacao islands are towards the east of Aruba, and together they are known as the ABC islands.
Landform
Despite being an island, this region has no river water and little plant life. The unique landforms of Aruba make some places interesting tourist spots. Most part of the Aruba Island is a flat landscape.
Since the island sits on the South American continental shelf, geologically speaking, it is known to be a part of South America.
The climate in Aruba is dry with an average rainfall of little over 20 inches. The rainy season ranging from end of October to early January witnesses tiny sharp spells mostly at night. The cool winds as well as the temperature averaging at 28°C make this island a tourist treat.
The western coast is made of white sandy beaches, and the famous Eagle Beach is found in this area. The northern coast is made up of hills. The sea in this part of the island is rough with strong water currents. These conditions are not tourist-friendly. The Arikok National Park in the northeast makes up 18% of the total land area of Aruba. The park is known for its versatile landscapes — caves with Arawak paintings, hills carved out of lava formations, natural pool, beaches as well as sand dunes. Mount Jamanota inside the Arikok National Park is just about 188m (617ft) above the sea level and the highest point in Aruba. The southern most part of Aruba island is the most accessible. In contrast to the northern coast, the south is made up of calm waters and white sandy beaches. A snorkelling adventure to witness the reefs is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Culture
Even before the Spanish and Dutch invaded Aruba, the Arawak Indians’ tribe inhabited this island. One can still see the Arawak cave paintings and rock art designs. The Spanish gained control of Aruba but soon gave in to the Dutch in the year 1636. Interestingly, the English ruled for a while but later handed it over to the Dutch in 1816. It was only in 1985 that Aruba became an independent country of the Kingdom of Netherlands. Hence people in Aruba speak four languages — Spanish, Dutch, English, and a native language Papiamento. It has one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the world.
Dutch influences can be seen even in the architechture. Besides, some old houses constructed from crusty calcium substance found in the southeast hills exist even today. The kinds of music on Aruba Island are calypso, soca and merengue. The Grand Parade in Oranjestad, also known as the Aruba Carnival, is a grand event in the country’s calendar that attracts tourists every year.
Cuisine
Being in the Caribbean region, an assortment of Caribbean fish finds its place in Aruban cuisine. Spanish influence can be witnessed since Aruba was a Spanish colony. Hence, the country has a lot of heavy stews and soups as part of its cuisine, like the stoba (stew) which is made with chicken or carni (beef) or cabrito (goat). In each of the dishes, meat is cooked along with onion, potato, tomato, garlic, and herbs for a long time. Keri Keri is another stew delicacy made with shark meat and cooked with basil, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Funchi made of cornmeal is served as a side dish along with soups and stews. Fried plantain is also a common side dish. Keshi Yena is a famous baked traditional dish made out of Edam or Gouda cheese, vegetables, and meat.
