 Aruba Facts

 Name: Aruba, an autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

 Capital City: Oranjestad (33,000 pop.)

 Aruba Population: 109,153 (2013 est.)

 Currency: Aruban Guilder / Florin

25 Aruban Guilders

 Ethnicity: mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%, other 20%

 GDP total: $2.516 billion (2012 est.)

 GDP per capita: $25,300 (2012 est.)

 Language: 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%

 Largest Cities: (by population) Babijn, Oranjestad, Angochi, Arasji

 Name: It is widely suggested that Aruba's name comes from the Spanish phrase
"oro huba" which means "there was gold." However, it's also possible that it is
derived from two Carib Indian words "ora" and "oubao" which mean "shell" and
"island" respectively.
 National Day: March 18

 Religion: Roman Catholic 80.8%, Evangelist 4.1%, Protestant 2.5%, Jehovah's

Witnesses 1.5%, Methodist 1.2%, Jewish 0.2%, other 5.1%, none or unspecified 4.6%

 Bird: Burrowing Owl (Choco)

 Geography : Aruba is (for the most part) a dry and flat riverless island famous
for its white, sandy beaches on the western and southern coasts.

The eastern edges of the island are exposed to higher winds, consequently they
have fewer sand beaches, much rougher seas and a rocky coastline.

The island's interior features some scattered rolling hills, including Hooiberg, at
 165 me (541 ft), and Mount Jamanota, the highest on the island at 188 meters
(617 ft).

 Aruba Flag:

The Aruba flag was officially adopted in 1976, and its style was retained after it
became an autonomous region of the Netherlands.
 Coat of Arms:

 Coat of Arms: The coat of arms of Aruba was designed in Amsterdam in 1955. It
displays a lion sitting atop a shield with laurel branches surrounding the lower
half. The lion symbolizes power and generosity, and the laurel branches are
traditional symbols of peace and friendship.

The shield is divided into four sections by a white cross which represents devotion
and faith. In the first quarter of the shield is the island's first important export --
the aloe plant. In the second quarter is Aruba's most recognizable and second
highest hill, Hooiberg, which represents Aruba rising out of the sea. The third
quarter displays hands shaking, which is symbolic of Aruba's good relations with
 the world. Finally, the fourth quarter contains a cogwheel, representative of
industry.

 Flower: Wanglo Flower

 Motto: "One Happy Island"

 Tree: Divi-divi (windblown tree)

 Aruba is a Caribbean island nation of the Lesser Antilles, and a constituent
country of the Kingdom of Netherlands. The island occupies a small area of about
69 square miles and has a population of about 100,000 people. The population
displays diversity in ancestry, with most Arubans being of European, Amerindian,
or African descent. There are various languages spoken in the country by different
ethnic groups. Some of the ethnic groups include Dutch, Columbian, Venezuelan,
Dominican, Haitian, and other smaller groups. The two official languages of the
island are Dutch and Papiamento. Other common languages include Spanish,
English, French, and Portuguese. Most islanders are fluent in up to four
languages.