Aruba Travel guide

Capital: Oranjestad
Government: parliamentary democracy
Currency: Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)
Area: 193 sq km
Population: 71,891 (July 2006 est.)
Language: Dutch (official), Papiamento (a creole of
Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch origin), English (widely spoken), Spanish
Religion: Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish
Electricity: 120V/60Hz (North American plug)
Calling Code: +297
Internet TLD: .aw
Time Zone: UTC -4

Aruba is a Caribbean island 15 miles north of the coast of Venezuela. The island is an autonomous dependency of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is 19.6 miles (30 kilometers) long and 6 miles (9 kilometers) across, at its widest point, with an area of approximately 70 square miles (184 square kilometers). This flat, riverless island is renowned for its white sand beaches. Its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean. The temperature is almost constant at about 27°C (81°F).