Nature of Aruba - national parks and reserves for active recreation

Aruba is an island that has volcanic origin. This tiny piece of land lost in the Caribbean has a length of 32 kilometers and a width of 10 kilometers. The area of ​​the island is 192 square kilometers. The island is located in the Venezuelan Gulf, just 20 kilometers from the coast of Venezuela. Aruba is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by coral reefs located in its northern part. The reefs are inhabited by a large number of different fish. Thanks to diving in this area, a large number of tourists come to Aruba every year.

Aruba has a very specific landscape. Plains are made a little bit livelier by rare shrubs which are the main element of the island’s landscape. There are no mountain ranges, forests, or even a single river in Aruba. Its highest point is Mount Yamanota. It is fixed on a height of 188 meters above sea level and is located in Arikok National Park. On the island, there is an area called Ayo Rock, which houses large boulders and rock fragments. This is very mysterious, as the island is sandy and has a flat terrain. The famous Aruban beaches, 12 kilometers long, are located in the western and southern parts of the island. The eastern coast of Aruba is a desert and rocky coast of shorelines blown by the winds.

The conservation area in which the Arikok National Park is located, occupies almost 20% of the island’s territory. The park’s area occupying 33 square kilometers is sheltered from the winds, and its soil is rich in various mineral compounds. It is because of this that excellent conditions for living have been created in Arikok for various animals and plants. The park has become the habitat of a number of snakes and bird species. Only in Arikok inhabits one species of parrots and owls. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Diversity of Plant is presented in Arikok by such ones as divi-divi trees, kwihi, several types of aloe, exotic flowers, and cacti. In this park you can look at the Kunuku. This structure is built with a mixture of mud, straws and cactus. The interior of the house is executed in the style of past years. At the very edge of Arikok, visitors will be able to see for themselves the famous Tunnel of Love and the Guadirikiri caves. The 93-meter cave called the “Tunnel of Love”, gained fame thanks to its entrance which looks like a silhouette of the heart. Guadirikiri is an entire complex of caves with two halls. Sunlight penetrates the halls through the openings in the upper arches, forming a beautiful play of shadows and light inside.

One of the most favorite tourist attractions of Aruba is the Donkey Sanctuary which is situated here. The attraction has been on the island since 1997 and is a vivid example of a person’s care for our dear friends – animals and little creatures. In ancient times, donkeys were exploited on the island as a means of transportation and load force. However with the advent of progress and the increasing use of automobile transport, they were no longer needed by man and were left to fend for themselves. The unhappy animals wandered along the roads in search of food. The inventors of the reserve took pity on the donkeys and organized a kind of shelter for them, which eventually grew into a real reserve. Currently, 40 species of these mammals live in the Donkey Reserve. Visitors can without difficulty play and take pictures with inhabitants of the reserve. Feeding of the animals by guests is also allowed. Some of the favorite donkey delicacies are apples and carrots. By purchasing souvenirs in the appropriate shop in the reserve, visitors help the reserve, as all funds raised are spent on the maintenance of the animals.

The Philip’s Animal Garden has become a place for lovers and connoisseurs of natural diversity. This zoo was designed and personally built by Philip Merryweather. Thanks to his efforts, different rare birds and animals have found their home here. Over time, the zoo has become a non-profit charitable organization. Today, its task is to save and preserve the unique species of animals living in Aruba and throughout the region as a whole. The basis of the zoo in the early stages of its creation was snakes. Later on, they were joined by various species of monkeys, horses, camels and ostriches. In the Philip’s Animal Garden you can find ordinary goats and pigs, as well as rare species of birds. On a regular basis, the zoo holds various actions to improve the living conditions of animals. While visiting the Philip’s Animal Garden, you are allowed to feed animals.

There was another unique attraction in Aruba. This is a natural bridge, located on the northeast coast of the island near the town of Bushiribana. The bridge was a coral arch with a length of 30 meters and a height of 7 meters. The natural bridge was a very popular tourist attraction, made by nature of stone with the help of water elements. But time does not spare anyone or anything, in 2005, the bridge was destroyed by natural factors.