Aruba - About the Island
By Judy Koutsky
The Caribbean has always been a great destination for romance, but Aruba is even more so because it falls outside the hurricane belt. The island is a geological anomaly – blue, Caribbean water in the same picture frame as green, desert cactus. The country’s geographical location translates into sunny weather year-round with the average temperature 82ºF.
The topography and vegetation of Aruba are unusual for a Caribbean island. On 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 marked by its rugged landscapes and miles of pristine coastline. The interior is colored with numerous brush trees, a variety of cacti and dramatic rock formations. The island’s most famous trees are the watapana, or divi-divi trees, all permanently sculpted into graceful, southwest-bending shapes by the constant trade winds. Located in the southern Caribbean, 15 miles from the South American coastline, the island is 19.6 miles long, and six miles across at its widest point, with a total area of 70 square miles.
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