Aruba
Aruba
- Capital
- Oranjestad
- Population
- 106,766
- Region
- Americas
- Languages
- Dutch, Papiamento
Unlike many Caribbean neighboring islands, the native language of Aruba is Papiamento, a unique creole that blends elements of Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and African languages. The island's arid climate also makes it the only place in the region where you will find indigenous divi-divi trees naturally leaning in one direction due to the constant trade winds. Another unusual feature is that most residents are of mixed Arawak, Spanish, and Dutch heritage, as the island was never developed into a traditional plantation economy during the colonial era.
Currency
The national currency is the Aruban florin, identified by the ISO code AWG. When it was introduced in 1986 to replace the Netherlands Antillean guilder, Aruba purposefully maintained a fixed exchange rate pegged to the United States dollar, a policy that remains in place today to ensure economic stability.
Flag symbolism
The flag features a light blue field representing the Caribbean Sea and the clear skies surrounding the island. Two narrow yellow stripes across the lower half symbolize the abundance of gold and phosphate industries that once drove the local economy. The red four-pointed star in the upper corner represents the island itself, pointing to the four directions of the compass to signify the diverse origins of its people and the white outline around the star denotes the white sandy beaches and purity of the Aruban spirit.
Emblem history
The Aruban coat of arms was officially adopted in 1955 and features an aloe vera plant in the upper left quadrant as a tribute to the island's first major export. A central shield is crowned by a resting lion which serves as a heraldic link to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and symbolizes power and generosity. The lower sections include a red wheel representing industry and a laurel branch that signifies peace and friendship. This emblem was designed in Amsterdam to reflect the island's blend of natural resources and its political relationship with the Dutch monarchy.