| Weather and Nature |
| |
| Weather |
 |
|
Aruba is perfect if you are looking for a truly sun filled destination.
On very rare occasions does it not shine! Since Aruba is so close to
the equator, the sun is very bright. Luckily, Aruba is always cooled by
a pleasant sea breeze. This wind makes it sometimes feel a bit cooler
than it really is. Therefore you should always be very careful in the
sun and use a high factor of sun block.
|
 |
|
Approximate Temperatures in Aruba
|
| Celsius |
Fahrenheit |
| 22 |
70 |
| 26 |
80 |
| 30 |
86 |
| 32 |
90 |
| 38 |
100 |
|
| |
| Nature |
 |
|
Aruba has a rare collection of its own distinctive creatures that
reside on or about the island. The island itself is very dry and plants
you most frequently see are for example cactuses, aloe vera plants and
divi-divi trees (that are shaped beautifully by the wind). Not until
just recently did we begin to more carefully protect the species that
reside in Aruba. One of these distinctive creatures is the tiny shoco
(owl) of the burrowing genre. Besides being seen at different spots
around the island, it is now living in splendor at the Tierra del Sol
golf course where the construction of the golf course was re-routed to
protect its habitat. Their population has reached a good number of
actively breeding couples. They move their homes often to keep
predators away and have unlimited options because the golf course
structure features rocks, hillocks, plant life, sand and grass.
Maintenance staffs are instructed to rake around the nests that are
often found in the bunkers.
|
 |
|
 |
|
Aruba is also the site for endangered mammoth sea turtles and annually
they travel thousands of miles from the sea to lay their eggs on our
beaches. From March to August the hawksbill (caret), green turtle
(tortugo blanco), loggerhead (cawama) and the largest of all sea
turtles, the leatherback (driekiel) perform the eons-old ritual as
these magnificent creatures crawl slowly from the water onto several
beaches which include Eagle Beach, Palm Beach and Andicuri, to deposit
their eggs and return to sea. The hatchlings instinctively return to
the sea and at maturity, which is about 30 years, return to the island
of their birth. It is essential and against the law that the ritual not
be disturbed by shining lights on the turtles or in any way disrupt
their passage; and it is strictly forbidden to remove the eggs from
their nests.
|
 |
|
 |
|
In 1997, a foundation was established to save the wild donkey
population on the island from extinction. A 20,000 square meter piece
of land has been made available to them, but plans are that they
eventually will be returned to the Arikok National Park. The existence
of the shy and defenseless creatures have been documented in the early
1940 when the population was down to about 500 and in 1979 it reached
an all time low. n educating the community against careless car
accidents or other attacks against the animals, and with donations for
food, water and a safe haven, the donkey families will prosper.
|