|
About the island:
 |
Curacao
is the largest of the group of islands called the Netherlands
Antilles . The other islands are Saba, St. Eustatius,
St. Maarten ( windward islands), and Aruba. Bonaire and
Curacao ( leeward islands).
The islands have their own local gouvernment, besides
the Central Gouvernment which is registered in Curacao.
The Netherlands, The Netherlands Antilles and Aruba are
parts of the Dutch Kingdom. |
Location:
Curacao is situated at 70 km ( 44 miles ) of the coast of Venezuela.
The island lies between Aruba and Bonaire.
Size:
Curacao is 444 square kilometers. The biggest strech is 70 km.
Population:
 |
140.000
inhabitants from very different etnic backgrounds. The
biggest group are African descendants, West Europeans,
Sarphatic Jews, Portugese, Chinese, people from India
and immigrants from surrounding islands. |
Capital:
Willemstad
Religion:
More than 70% of the population is catholic. Important groups
are protestants,
jews and moslims.
Time:
Four hours earlier than Greenwich Mean Time.
Flag:
|
 |
In the Curacao flag you see
two white stars Curacao and Small Curacao ( a small island
east of Curacao). The flag is blue, which symbolizes the
extensive sea , which surrounds the island. The yellow
stripe symbolizes the sun, always shining on the island. |
|
Climate:
Curacao has a tropic climate. The average temperature is 28
degrees. ( 32 at noon and 24 at night ). There is always a fresh
wind blowing from the North / East. There are two ( not so different)
seasons, a dry period ( February – October ) and a rainy
season ( November – January ).
The rainy season involves short heavy rains followed by sunny
periods. In this time of the year the island is very green and
everything is in bloom.
The total annual rainfall averages 570 mm ( 22 inches). Curacao
is outside the hurricane belt, which makes storms very rare.
Language:
 Papiamentu
is the native language most people speak. It is derivated from
the portugese word “papear”, which means “jabber”.
The Curacao population existed in the 17 th century mainly of
Indians, Dutch, West African negros and Saphardic jews, all
speaking different languages. Papiamentu is developed (originated)
out of the mutual communication of these groups and their contact
with the Spanish environment. It is not surprising that papiamentu
is a mixture of all these languages.
It is also partly derivated from the “guene” language
, that was spoken between the portugese merchants and different
African tribes along the African Westcoast.
The official language is still dutch, although papiamentu is
spoken in all sections of the population. Since the 19 th century
biblical books and all sorts of literature are translated in
papiamentu.
The ambition to make papiamentu an official language is quite
recently. In 1985 a law was presented to give papiamentu besides
dutch an official status. All schools give lessons in dutch
and papiamentu. Curacao is a multi-cultural community, english,
Spanish and dutch are widely spoken by Antillians, especially
in hotels, shops and restaurants.
|
 |
 |
|
In front of Penha where the Flowting Bridge
ends there's e tourist information booth. |
|
|
 |
|
|
