Aruba
is
part
of
the
Kingdom
of
the
Netherlands;
full
autonomy
in
internal
affairs
was
obtained
in
1986,
upon
separation
from
the
Netherlands
Antilles.
The
Dutch
Government
is
responsible
for
defense
and
foreign
affairs.
It is a semi-arid limestone platform set on an ancient core of igneous rock. The island is nearly 32 km long and up to 10 km wide and covers an area of 193 km². Aruba is 31 km north of Cape San Roman on the Paraguanį Peninsula of Venezuela. Little variation in temperatures occurs throughout the year and rainfall, which falls mostly in November and December, averages less than 51 centimeters a year. The red soil on the island is poor and thin and the thorny vegetation is quite drought resistant. Tourism and the refining of oil brought in from nearby Venezuela are the major industries. Oraniestad, located on the northwest coast, is the major city of the island (source: NASA and CIA).
