Editing Aruba (section)

==Geography==
{{main|Geography of Aruba|Geology of Aruba}}{{Multiple image
| image1            = Erfgoed kaart.jpg
| image2            = North coast limestone plateaus Aruba 2015.jpg
| caption2          = High limestone terraces on the north coast
| caption1          = Geography of the geological formations of Aruba (c. 1820)
| total_width       = 
| direction         = vertical
| image3            = Hooiberg aloe aanplanten.jpg
| caption3          = Aloe agriculture with Hooiberg on the horizon
| image4            = Natural Pool in Aruba-July 4, 2018.jpg
| caption4          = Geological [[pillow lava]] formation near ''Conchi'' or [[Natural Pool (Aruba)|Natural pool]] area ([[Santa Cruz, Aruba|Santa Cruz]])
}}

Aruba is located 77&nbsp;km (48&nbsp;mi) west of [[Curaçao]] and 29&nbsp;km (18&nbsp;mi) north of [[Paraguaná Peninsula]] of [[Venezuela]].<ref name="Britannica"/> Aruba showcases three distinct landscapes. The northwestern region is primarily characterized by flat [[batholith]] landscapes. Notable landmarks include the conical [[Hooiberg]] hill and rock formations like [[Ayo Rock Formations|Ayo]] and [[Casibari Rock Formations|Casibari]]. Moreover, the northeastern part of the island features the oldest formations known as the [[Jamanota#Aruba Lava Formation|Aruba Lava Formation]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=White |first1=R. V |last2=Tarney |first2=J |last3=Kerr |first3=A. C |last4=Saunders |first4=A. D |last5=Kempton |first5=P. D |last6=Pringle |first6=M. S |last7=Klaver |first7=G. T |date=1999-01-01 |title=Modification of an oceanic plateau, Aruba, Dutch Caribbean: Implications for the generation of continental crust |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024493798000619 |journal=Lithos |volume=46 |issue=1 |pages=43–68 |doi=10.1016/S0024-4937(98)00061-9 |bibcode=1999Litho..46...43W |issn=0024-4937}}</ref> This region is marked by rolling hills, including [[Jamanota]], and is home to Arikok National Park, and [[limestone]] terraces surround these two landscapes. The low-lying limestone terrace regions are defined by their white sandy beaches and the high plateaus on the north side of the island, in contrast, are constantly battered by the rough waters of the ocean, featuring caves and small natural bridge formations.

The arid landscape in Aruba is not solely a product of its climate but is also a consequence of extensive deforestation and exploitation during the Spanish colonization of the island.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek Aruba |url=http://archive.org/details/BNA-DIG-RAPPORT-CBS-LANDSCAPE-2016-LS-02 |title=The history of resource exploitation in Aruba : Landscape series 2 |last2=Derix |first2=Ruud |date=2016 |publisher=Oranjestad: Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek}}</ref> Consequently, certain crops, such as [[aloe vera]], thrive in this environment due to the high calcium-rich soil known as liming.<ref name=":0" /> As of 2022, Aruba only has 2.3% of forest-covered land area and only 0.5% of protected natural area.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Eppinga |first1=Maarten B. |last2=Mijts |first2=Eric N. |last3=Santos |first3=Maria J. |date=2022-07-01 |title=Ranking the sustainable development goals: perceived sustainability priorities in small island states |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-022-01100-7 |journal=Sustainability Science |language=en |volume=17 |issue=4 |pages=1537–1556 |doi=10.1007/s11625-022-01100-7 |bibcode=2022SuSc...17.1537E |s2cid=246683341 |issn=1862-4057|hdl=1854/LU-8741920 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> The Aruba Conservation Foundation, established in 2003, oversees the management of the conservation of 16 established protected areas, which encompass a total of nearly 25% of the island's surface, as well as four [[Marine protected area|Marine Protected Areas]] (MPAs)<ref>ACF, Aruba Conservation Foundation. est. 2003. vis. 2025. https://acf.aw/nature-conservation</ref> The [[Arikok National Park]], established as formal conservation land in 2000, covers 20% of the island.<ref>This Rare Earth. vis. 2025 https://thisrareearth.com/arikok-national-park-aruba/</ref> [[Forest cover]] is around 2% of the total land area, equivalent to 420 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, which was unchanged from 1990. None of the forest was reported to be [[primary forest]] (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity), and no forest area was found within protected areas.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6e225da-4a31-4e06-818d-ca3aeadfd635/content |title=Terms and Definitions FRA 2025 Forest Resources Assessment, Working Paper 194 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |year=2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, Aruba |url=https://fra-data.fao.org/assessments/fra/2020/ABW/home/overview |website=Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations}}</ref>

The geography includes naturally formed ''rooi'' or gullies that channel rainwater towards dams and ultimately the ocean. Other than Arikok National Park, the [[Bubali Bird Sanctuary]] is the only significant body of water on the island that holds the status of protected nature reserve and serves as a [[brackish water]] [[lagoon]].

=== Regions ===
Aruba is divided into eight regions for census purposes, with no administrative function. Some correspond to [[parish]]es and include several community facilities.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-bottom: 0;"
|-
! Name !! Area (km<sup>2</sup>) !! Population <br /> 1991 census !! Population <br /> 2000 census !! Population <br /> 2010 census !! Population <br /> 2020 census
|-
| [[Noord]] || {{formatnum: 34.62}} || {{formatnum: 10056}} || {{formatnum: 16944}} || {{formatnum: 21495}} || {{formatnum: 24193}}
|-
| [[Oranjestad West]] || {{formatnum: 9.29}} || {{formatnum: 8779}} || {{formatnum: 12131}} || {{formatnum: 13976}} || {{formatnum: 13735}}
|-
| Oranjestad Oost || {{formatnum: 12.88}} || {{formatnum: 11266}} || {{formatnum: 14224}} || {{formatnum: 14318}} || {{formatnum: 14923}}
|-
| [[Paradera Region|Paradera]] || {{formatnum: 20.49}} || {{formatnum: 6189}} || {{formatnum: 9037}} || {{formatnum: 12024}} || {{formatnum: 13834}}
|-
| San Nicolaas Noord || {{formatnum: 23.19}} || {{formatnum: 8206}} || {{formatnum: 10118}} || {{formatnum: 10433}} || {{formatnum: 9940}}
|-
| San Nicolaas Zuid || {{formatnum: 9.64}} || {{formatnum: 5304}} || {{formatnum: 5730}} || {{formatnum: 4850}} || {{formatnum: 4235}}
|-
| [[Santa Cruz Region|Santa Cruz]] || {{formatnum: 41.04}} || {{formatnum: 9587}} || {{formatnum: 12326}} || {{formatnum: 12870}} || {{formatnum: 15236}}
|-
| [[Savaneta Region|Savaneta]] || {{formatnum: 27.76}} || {{formatnum: 7273}} || {{formatnum: 9996}} || {{formatnum: 11518}} || {{formatnum: 11955}}
|-
| '''Total Aruba''' || '''{{formatnum: 178.91}}''' || '''{{formatnum: 66687}}''' || '''{{formatnum: 90506}}''' || '''{{formatnum: 101484}}''' || '''{{formatnum: 108166}}'''
|}

===Flora and fauna===
The landscape is characterized by common [[Deserts and xeric shrublands|xeric scrublands]] featuring various [[cacti]], thorny shrubs, and evergreen plants.<ref name="Britannica"/> Notably, aloe vera is also found on the island, and its economic significance has led to its inclusion on the [[coat of arms of Aruba]]. Cacti include ''[[Melocactus]] and'' ''[[Opuntia]]'', with ''[[Opuntia stricta]]'' being prominent. Drought-tolerant trees like ''[[Caesalpinia coriaria]]'' and ''[[Vachellia tortuosa]]'' are present. The isolation from the South America mainland contributed to the evolution of multiple [[Endemism|endemic species]]. The island provides a habitat for unique wildlife, including the endemic [[Cnemidophorus arubensis|Aruban whiptail]], [[Crotalus unicolor|Aruba rattlesnake]], as well as subspecies of [[Aruban burrowing owl|Aruban burrowing owl]] and [[Eupsittula pertinax|Brown-throated parakeet]].

{{Multiple image
| image1            = Arikok NP.jpg
| image2            = Whiptail lizard Eidechse Aruba - Flickr - Ralf Hüsges.jpg
| caption1          = Cacti on the rolling hills of [[Arikok National Park]]
| caption2          = [[Cnemidophorus arubensis|Aruba whiptail]] on a yellow [[opuntia]] flower.
| total_width       = 800
| align             = center
| image3            = Cocolishi di kalakuna 17 53 48 673000.jpeg
| caption3          = ''Cocoloshi di kalakuna'' or [[Cerion uva]] land snail
| image4            = Aruba-Blue-tailed-Emerald-Arikok-NP (cropped).JPG
| caption4          = ''Colibri'' or Aruba [[Blue-tailed emerald]]
| perrow            = 
| direction         = horizontal
}}

===Climate and natural hazards===
{{main|Climate of Aruba}}
{{Climate chart|Aruba|24.8|30.3|44.0|24.8|30.6|19.5|25.3|31.1|10.0|26.0|31.9|8.6|26.7|32.0|14.1|26.9|32.5|17.4|26.7|32.4|19.6|27.2|33.2|31.4|27.3|33.2|42.9|26.7|32.4|76.5|26.0|31.5|87.1|25.3|30.7|80.1|units=metric|float=right|clear=both}}
According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], Aruba is characterized by a [[hot semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSh''),<ref name=extremes>{{cite web |url= http://www.meteo.aw/climate.php|publisher= Departamento Meteorologico Aruba |title= Climate Data Aruba |access-date= 15 October 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121014042548/http://www.meteo.aw/climate.php |archive-date= 14 October 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> characterized by limited rainfall, totaling just {{convert|500|mm|in|0|disp=or}} annually. Notably, Aruba remains dry even during its supposed rainy season. Rainfall can be highly variable,<ref>Dewar, Robert E. and Wallis, James R; 'Geographical patterning in interannual rainfall variability in the tropics and near tropics: An L-moments approach'; in ''[[Journal of Climate]]'', 12; pp. 3457–3466</ref> ranging from as little as {{convert|150|mm|in|0|disp=or}} during strong [[El Niño]] years (e.g. 1911/1912, 1930/1931, 1982/1983, 1997/1998) to over {{convert|1000|mm|in|0|disp=or}} in [[La Niña]] years, such as 1933/1934, 1970/1971 or 1988/1989.

An exception to the general aridity is observed during the short rainy season from September to January. During this period, the southward retreat of the [[Intertropical Convergence Zone]] leads to more frequent moist northeasterly winds. Aruba is positioned south of the [[Main Development Region]] for [[tropical cyclone]]s<ref name="autogenerated2" /> and generally avoids the direct impact of these storms. However, late in the [[2020 Atlantic hurricane season]], the island was affected by two hurricanes in their early stages.

In Oranjestad, mean monthly temperatures remain consistently moderate, with little variation (low [[diurnal temperature variation]]) ranging from {{convert|27.0|°C|1}} to {{convert|29.6|C}}. This temperature stability is moderated by the constant [[trade winds]] originating from the northeast, sweeping in from the Atlantic Ocean.

{{Weather box
| location = Oranjestad, Aruba (normals 1991–2020, extremes 1951–2020)
| metric first= yes
| single line = yes
| width = auto
|Jan record high C = 32.5
|Feb record high C = 33.0
|Mar record high C = 33.9
|Apr record high C = 34.4
|May record high C = 34.9
|Jun record high C = 35.2
|Jul record high C = 35.3
|Aug record high C = 36.1
|Sep record high C = 36.5
|Oct record high C = 35.4
|Nov record high C = 35.0
|Dec record high C = 34.8
|year record high C = 36.5
|Jan high C = 30.3
|Feb high C = 30.6
|Mar high C = 31.1
|Apr high C = 31.9
|May high C = 32.0
|Jun high C = 32.5
|Jul high C = 32.4
|Aug high C = 33.2
|Sep high C = 33.2
|Oct high C = 32.4
|Nov high C = 31.5
|Dec high C = 30.7
|year high C = 31.8
|Jan mean C = 27.0
|Feb mean C = 27.1
|Mar mean C = 27.4
|Apr mean C = 28.2
|May mean C = 28.7
|Jun mean C = 29.0
|Jul mean C = 28.9
|Aug mean C = 29.5
|Sep mean C = 29.6
|Oct mean C = 29.1
|Nov mean C = 28.4
|Dec mean C = 27.5
|year mean C = 28.4
|Jan low C = 24.8
|Feb low C = 24.8
|Mar low C = 25.3
|Apr low C = 26.0
|May low C = 26.7
|Jun low C = 26.9
|Jul low C = 26.7
|Aug low C = 27.2
|Sep low C = 27.3
|Oct low C = 26.7
|Nov low C = 26.0
|Dec low C = 25.3
|year low C = 26.1
|Jan record low C = 19.0
|Feb record low C = 20.6
|Mar record low C = 21.2
|Apr record low C = 21.5
|May record low C = 21.8
|Jun record low C = 22.7
|Jul record low C = 21.2
|Aug record low C = 21.3
|Sep record low C = 22.1
|Oct record low C = 21.9
|Nov record low C = 22.0
|Dec record low C = 20.5
|year record low C = 19.0
|Jan rain mm = 44.0
|Feb rain mm = 19.5
|Mar rain mm = 10.0
|Apr rain mm = 8.6
|May rain mm = 14.1
|Jun rain mm = 17.4
|Jul rain mm = 19.6
|Aug rain mm = 31.4
|Sep rain mm = 42.9
|Oct rain mm = 76.5
|Nov rain mm = 87.1
|Dec rain mm = 80.1
|year rain mm = 451.1
|Jan humidity = 77.8
|Feb humidity = 76.2
|Mar humidity = 75.9
|Apr humidity = 76.9
|May humidity = 77.9
|Jun humidity = 77.4
|Jul humidity = 77.8
|Aug humidity = 75.6
|Sep humidity = 76.2
|Oct humidity = 77.9
|Nov humidity = 78.8
|Dec humidity = 77.9
|year humidity = 77.2
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|Jan rain days = 10.8
|Feb rain days = 4.5
|Mar rain days = 2.0
|Apr rain days = 1.5
|May rain days = 1.7
|Jun rain days = 2.8
|Jul rain days = 4.1
|Aug rain days = 3.1
|Sep rain days = 3.3
|Oct rain days = 7.3
|Nov rain days = 9.6
|Dec rain days = 11.0
|year rain days = 61.7
|source 1 = Departamento Meteorologico Aruba<ref name=normals>{{cite web
| url = http://www.meteo.aw/files/Download/climatnormals19912020.pdf
| publisher = Departamento Meteorologico Aruba
| title = Summary Climatological Normals Period 1991–2020
| access-date = 14 February 2021
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210215041140/http://www.meteo.aw/files/Download/climatnormals19912020.pdf
| archive-date = 15 February 2021
| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=climatedata1>{{cite web
| url = http://www.meteo.aw/files/Download/climatnormals19511980.pdf
| publisher = Departamento Meteorologico Aruba
| title = Summary Climatological Normals Period 1951–1980
| access-date= 14 February 2021
| url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512102459/http://www.meteo.aw/files/Download/climatnormals19511980.pdf |archive-date=12 May 2013 }}</ref><ref name=climatedata2>{{cite web
| url = http://www.meteo.aw/files/Download/CLIM_SUM_Aua.pdf
| publisher = Departamento Meteorologico Aruba
| title = Summary Climatological Normals Period 1971–2000
| access-date= 14 February 2021
| url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512100149/http://www.meteo.aw/files/Download/CLIM_SUM_Aua.pdf |archive-date=12 May 2013 }}</ref><ref name=climatedata3>{{cite web
| url = http://www.meteo.aw/files/Download/climatnormals19812010.pdf
| publisher = Departamento Meteorologico Aruba
| title = Summary Climatological Normals Period 1981–2010
| access-date= 14 February 2021
| url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117012156/http://www.meteo.aw/files/Download/climatnormals19812010.pdf |archive-date=17 January 2013 }}</ref>
| date=February 2011
}}