Aruba Geography Profile 2007

Location

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates

12 30 N, 69 58 W

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Area

total: 193 sq km
land: 193 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

68.5 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

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

Natural resources

NEGL; white sandy beaches

Land use

arable land: 10.53%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 89.47% (2005)

Irrigated land

0.01 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards

lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

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 (81 degrees Fahrenheit)