A Description of Aruba's Past

The southern Caribbean island of Aruba is a well-liked destination for luxurious beach vacations, especially for Americans. It is located 30 kilometers north of Venezuela and has beaches with fine white sand and gorgeous turquoise water. Curacao, 50 miles to the east, is the closest Caribbean island. The 'ABC Islands'—Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao—were for many years Dutch possessions and are still affiliated with the Netherlands. Aruba is one of these islands. Only 12 inches of rainfall every year on average. Aruba is home to many attractions and dining options, and cheap DTW flights from Detroit make it easy to visit.

Aruba's geography and climate

About the size of Liechtenstein in Europe, Aruba is a tiny, slender Caribbean island. Its entire land area is 69 miles square (179 km sq.), which is almost the same size as Rhode Island, the smallest state, and twice the size of the small island in a national park. Aruba is 15 times smaller than Chincoteague, an island off the coast of Virginia.

Large sandbar Aruba has a peak height of 617 feet and is level with a few minor hills. The island's population and development are located on the southwest shore, which has expansive white sand beaches and turquoise waters. Though only making up roughly a third of the island, the northern tip, southern end, and northeastern side all have rocky shores encircled by choppy waters. Arikok National Park, a natural reserve made up of rocky coasts encircled by choppy waves, covers a large portion of this region.

Read More: Why Aruba is so popular destination

Cacti, prickly shrubs, scrubby trees, palms, and other sand-loving plants can be found in dense stands throughout the Caribbean island of Aruba, which has a hot, semi-arid environment. The air on the island is moist, with an annual humidity range of 75% to 85%, and it's hot all year round. Wind, kite, and paragliding enthusiasts love the island because of the Atlantic trade winds that sweep across it from the northeast. Aruba was once the world's greatest exporter of aloe because enormous aloe vera plants occupied up to two-thirds of the island. Today, the aloe trade is much less prevalent, and tourism has supplanted it as the primary economic driver. The historical aloe commerce on the island is described in the Aloe Farm and Museum.

Aruba's brief prehistoric history

Arawak Coquieto Amerinduas Indians, who moved from South America, were the oldest humans to be recognized in Aruba, according to archaeologists, whose findings date back to 2000 BC. Since the Spanish were the ones who originally sold the locals into slavery in the early 1500s, Aruba has a close relationship with South America. Due to the Thirty Years War, the Dutch acquired control of Aruba in 1636, allowing the local Arawaks to grow and pasture cattle. The meat and produce were utilized by the Dutch to feed both themselves and other Dutch colonies. Over 350 years, from 1636 to 1986, Aruba was still a Dutch colony. Aruba produced phosphate, established aloe vera plantations, and mined gold throughout the 1800s and the early 1900s, but the island remained underdeveloped and unrecognized.

Using crude oil from Venezuelan oil reserves, Aruba's first oil refinery was established in 1928. One of the richest and most successful islands in the Caribbean as a result, the island underwent significant economic, financial, and lifestyle changes. A 30% income loss for the island and a 50% loss for the government resulted from the closure of the oil refineries in 1985. The oil refineries were thankfully replaced by a boom in tourism. In 1946, a successful tourism board was established to promote travel to Americans. By the 1970s, a respectable tourism business had grown.

Aruba's Culture

Around 1000 BC, the Arawak Coquieto Indians, who were originally from South America, moved to Aruba. African slaves were imported to the island during the Spanish colonial era and were kept there for 350 years by the Dutch. The majority of the native population now is mestizo, consisting of Arawak, African, and Dutch people. Over the years, Aruba has welcomed immigrants from over 90 different countries. The Papamiento dialect of Aruban Creole has terms from West African, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch languages. Most Arians speak three languages—Papamiento, Dutch, and English—and many also know Spanish. The official languages are Dutch and Papamiento. What are you waiting for? Pack your bags, reserve a flight from Detroit to Aruba, and spend the weekend with your loved ones.