Editing Curaçao (section)

== Infrastructure and transportation ==

=== Airport ===
[[Curaçao International Airport]] (also called Hato International Airport) is located on the northern coast of the island and offers connections to the Caribbean region, South America, North America and Europe. Curaçao Airport is a fairly large facility, with the third longest commercial runway in the Caribbean region after Rafael Hernández Airport in Puerto Rico and [[Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport]] in Guadeloupe. The airport served as a main base for [[Insel Air]], and for [[Air ALM]], the former national airlines of Curaçao.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

=== Railways ===
In 1887 a horse drawn street tramway opened in Punda, the part of the capital Willemstad on the eastern side of Sint Annabaai. It had a U-shaped route about 2&nbsp;km in length. In 1896, a tramway opened in Otrabanda on the opposite side of the bay, but it ceased operations within a few months. The Punda line was rebuilt in 1911, regauged to metre gauge, and the horse-drawn trams replaced by petrol engined ones. The line closed in 1920.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morrison |first1=Allen |title=The Tramways of WILLEMSTAD |url=http://www.tramz.com/cw/cw.html |website=www.tramz.com |access-date=17 January 2023}}</ref>

===Public transportation===
ABC (''Auto Busbedrijf Curaçao'', "Curaçao Bus Company") provides bus transportation in and around Willemstad with 21 lines, all departing from either Otrabanda and Punda bus stations, including lines 4A, 2A, 2B and 2C serving the airport. Fares range from 2.00 to 2.50 [[Caribbean guilder|guilders]].<ref>{{cite web |quote=Lines 1B 2A 2B 2C 3A 3B 3C 4A 4B 4C 5A 5C 6A 6B 7B 8A 8B 9A 10A 10B and 11| title=Orarionan di Salida|trans-title=Timetable of Departures |url=https://autobusbedrijf.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ABC_Artwork_Departure-Schedule-Poster-A4-Color_01AUG2024_2-sided.pdf |website=Auto Busbedrijf Curaçao |access-date=11 March 2025 |language=Papiamento}}</ref>

=== Bridges ===
[[File:Curacao-Bridges-2013.JPG|thumb|The [[Queen Emma Bridge|Queen Emma]] (semi-open), and the [[Queen Juliana Bridge|Queen Juliana]]]]
[[File:Smith brug over the Waaigat.jpg|thumb|Smith brug over the Waaigat]]
[[File:Kon. Wilhelmina brug over the Waaigat.jpg|thumb|Kon. Wilhelmina brug over the Waaigat]]
The [[Queen Emma Bridge]], a {{convert|168|m}} long [[pontoon bridge]], allows pedestrians to walk between the Punda and Otrobanda districts.<ref>{{cite web|author=Curacao |url=http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147278-d148574-r32109942-Queen_Emma_Pontoon_Bridge-Willemstad_Curacao.html |title=Curaçao's Landmark! – Review of Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, Willemstad, Curacao |publisher=TripAdvisor |access-date=26 March 2013}}</ref> This swings open to allow the passage of ships to and from the port.<ref name="queen">{{cite web|url=http://www.curacao.com/The-Curacao-Difference/Vibrant-Architecture/Bridges?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723234128/http://www.curacao.com/The-Curacao-Difference/Vibrant-Architecture/Bridges|archive-date=23 July 2009|title=Pontoon Bridge- Curacao Bridges- Queen Emma Willemstad, Dutch Queens, Landmarks|publisher=Curacao.com|access-date=26 March 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The bridge was originally opened in 1888 and the current bridge was installed in 1939.<ref name="emmabridge">{{cite web|url=http://thetraveltrolley.com/2011/09/curacaos-floating-bridge-worth-a-gander/ |title=Curacao's floating bridge worth a gander |date=18 September 2011 |publisher=thetraveltrolley.com |access-date=13 January 2014}}</ref> It is best known and, more often than not, referred to by the locals as "Our Swinging Old Lady".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://1000awesomethingsaboutcuracao.com/2013/03/14/745-our-swinging-old-lady-queen-emma/|title=745. Our Swinging Old Lady: Queen Emma|date=14 March 2013|website=1000 Awesome Things About Curaçao|access-date=29 June 2016}}</ref>

The [[Queen Juliana Bridge]] carries [[motor vehicle]] traffic between the same two districts and its 1974 opening allowed the Queen Emma Bridge to become a pedestrian-only bridge. At {{convert|185|ft}} above the sea, the Queen Juliana Bridge is one of the highest bridges in the Caribbean.<ref name="queen" />

=== Utilities and sanitation ===
Aqualectra, a government-owned company<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aqualectra.com/company-profile/|title=Company profile - Aqualectra}}</ref> and a full member of [[Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC)|CARILEC]], delivers potable water and electricity to the island. Rates are controlled by the government.<!--says nothing about sewage!--> Water is produced by [[reverse osmosis]] or [[desalinization]].<ref name="aqualectra.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.aqualectra.com/en/about-aqualectra/company-profile|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518220555/http://www.aqualectra.com/en/about-aqualectra/company-profile|archive-date=18 May 2013 |title=Distribution Information |publisher=Aqualectra.com |access-date=26 March 2013}}</ref> It services 69,000 households and companies using 130,000 water and electric meters.<ref name="aqualectra.com" /> The power generation company NuCuraçao opened wind farms in Tera Kora and Playa Kanoa in 2012, and expanded in Tera Kora in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aqualectra.com/files/PDF/Annual_Reports/Aqualectra_Annual_Report_2017.pdf|title=Aqualectra Annual Report 2017|access-date=10 February 2019|archive-date=12 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011903/https://www.aqualectra.com/files/PDF/Annual_Reports/Aqualectra_Annual_Report_2017.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> There is no natural gas distribution grid; gas is supplied to homes by pressurized containers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://century21numberone.com/en/about-curacao/renting-property-in-curacao/|title=Renting Property in Curacao}}</ref>

[[Kerbside collection|Curbside trash pickup]] is provided by the Selikor company. There is no [[recycling]] pickup, but there are drop-off centers for certain recycled materials at the Malpais [[landfill]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.selikor.com/general-services-links/296-drop-off-centers|title=Drop-Off Centers|website=www.selikor.com}}</ref> and various locations operated by Green Force;<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.greenforcecuracao.com/Recycling/Where-can-I-recycle-on-Curacao/where-can-i-recycle-on-curacao-through-green-force-.html|title=Where can I recycle on Curacao through Green Force?|website=www.greenforcecuracao.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politiklounge.com/en/policy-blog/2016/december/recycling-project|title=Curaçao – a recycling project in the Caribbean – TUI policyBLOG|website=www.politiklounge.com}}</ref> private haulers recycle [[construction waste]], paper, and cardboard.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.caribbeanhomeandhouse.com/chh/recycling|title=Caribbean Recycling|website=www.caribbeanhomeandhouse.com|access-date=10 February 2019|archive-date=12 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011714/http://www.caribbeanhomeandhouse.com/chh/recycling|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.selikor.com/general-services-links/298-26-caribbean-recycling-company|title=Caribbean Recycling Company|website=www.selikor.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/paradiserecycling/|title=Paradise Recycling|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>