Interesting Facts

History

Aruba's first inhabitants were the Caquetios indigenous from the Arawak tribe. They are thought to have come to Aruba from mainland South America about 4,000 years ago.
The first European to land on Aruba (around 1499) was the Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda. In 1636, near the end of the Eighty Years’ War between Spain in Holland, the Dutch took possession of Aruba and remained in control for roughly two centuries. The English briefly took control of Aruba in 1805, but returned to the Dutch in 1816.
On January 1, 1986 Aruba became a separate entity from the Kingdom of Netherlands. This "Status Aparte" means Aruba is not fully independent, but rather a form of "Commonwealth" with Holland and its sister islands: Bonaire, Curacao, Sint Maarten, St. Eustatius, and Saba.
Aruba got its name, ruba oro (red gold) from the Spaniards who were searching for treasure. Later they placed Aruba on their list of useless islands when they found no gold or peals.
Prior to the tourism era, the Aruban economy received a boost from gold, discovered in 1824. Introduced to the island in 1850, aloe thrived so well in Aruba's climate that the island was once the largest exporter for aloe in the world. From 1926 to 1986 Aruba's economy heavily relied on the oil industry.

Today

Aruba is 19.6 miles long and 6 miles across at its widest point, with an area of approximately 70 square miles. Its highest point is Jamanota Hill at 189 meters.
Topography and vegetation are unusual for a Caribbean island. Along the south and west coasts are miles of pristine white beaches that rank among the most beautiful in the world. The northeast coast, along the windward shore, is rugged and wild. The interior is desert-like with a variety of cacti and dramatic rock formations.
Oranjestad is the historical Dutch city capital.
Aruba's population is about 100,000.
Dutch and Papiamento are the official languages of Aruba. Most Arubans are also fluent in English and Spanish. Papiamento is only spoken on the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao). For a short Papiamento lesson, click here.
Tourism is Aruba's primary industry. 70% of its workforce is employed in the tourism industry. Aruba's largest tourism market is the US 75% market share), followed by Venezuela, Columbia and Holland.