Geography of Aruba - Statistics

Statistics

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates

12°30′N 69°58′W / 12.5°N 69.967°W / 12.5; -69.967 (Aruba)Coordinates: 12°30′N 69°58′W / 12.5°N 69.967°W / 12.5; -69.967 (Aruba)

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

• Total: 193 km²
• Land: 193 km²
• Water: 0 km²

country comparison to the world: 108

Area comparative

slightly larger than Washington DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

68.5 km

Maritime claims

The "Rijkswet" of December 12, 1985, for the maritime boundaries between The Netherlands Antilles and Aruba, and the Maritime Boundaries Treaty signed March 31, 1978, between the Republic of Venezuela and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, introduced December 12, 1978, and valid for Aruba since January 1, 1986.

Territorial sea: 12 nmi (22.2 km; 13.8 mi)

Climate

Tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain

Flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Elevation extremes

• Lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
• Highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m
• Best known: Hooiberg 165 m (541 ft)

Natural resources

Negligible; white sandy beaches

Land use

• Arable land: 10.53% (including aloe 0.01%)
• Permanent crops: 0%
• Other: 89.47% (2005)

Irrigated land

0.01 km² (1998 est.)

Natural hazards

While Aruba barely lies within the Caribbean hurricane belt, storms rarely if ever pass over the island.

Environment--current issues

NA

Geography-note

A flat, riverless island 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 degrees Celsius.