Page 13 - AHATA

a8 local
Friday 5 april 2024

The Aruba Tourism Authority honor loyal visitors on the island

Recently, Ms. Marouska Heyliger had the great pleasure to honor a Loyal and friendly
visitors of Aruba at their home away from home.

The honorees:
Christina Whesper and Alexandra Whesper as Goodwill Ambassadors from New Jersey
Gilbert Whesper as Emerald Ambassador from New Jersey

The symbolic honorary title is presented on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, as a token
of appreciation to the guests who visit Aruba between 10-20-35 and more consecutive
years.

Ms. Marouska Heyliger thanked them for choosing Aruba as their vacation destination
and as their home away from home for so many years together with the members of
Caribbean Palm Village

Top reason for returning provided by the honorees were:
Beautiful beaches, beautiful weather and the friendliness of the people.q

National Park Arikok: Aruba’s biggest nature conservation

variety within the park. The
main aspects are the rough
hills of the volcanic Aruba
lava formation, the mysteri-
ous rocks of the batholithic
quartz-diorite/tonalite, and
the limestone rocks from fos-
silized coral. The two tallest
hills on the island are situat-
ed within the park. Jamano-
ta hill 188 meters (617 ft) and
Arikok hill 176 meters (577 ft),
from which the name of the
The National Park Arikok sea after laying her eggs, park is derived.
comprises almost 18 % of while another nest laid 2
the island. Its rugged ter- months ago by the same The line of the permanently
rain, desert-like hills filled female hatches—a very wind-and-wave beaten Old plantation (Cunucus) #198 Spanish Lagoon was
with tall cacti, breathtaking rare occurrence of daytime North Coast is broken by sites tell the story of an ac- annexed to Arikok National
coastline and protected nesting and hatching. Sea several bays (boca’s). Most tive yet challenging agricul- Park due to its importance
local flora and fauna wel- turtles prefer nesting in the of them are small yet im- tural past. as a feeding and breeding
come you to be explored. cool and dark hours of the pressive inlets at the mouth area for water birds and as
There are numerous animals night. And hatchlings usually of dry riverbeds. Some of These Cunucus were also a nursery area for a variety
to discover, for example the wait for the cue of cooling these bays (boca’s) are residential areas for the of marine organisms. With
sea turtle who lays his eggs surface sand before emerg- spectacular sights, adorned few families that worked the this addition, the areas un-
on the park’s beaches. ing. with white, sandy beaches land. These families found der FPNA management
and sand dunes, as is the ways to survive in the dif- increased by 70 hectares
The national park Arikok Nature Conservation case at Boca Prins and Dos ficult conditions, and were while the amount of spe-
takes you on a memorable The protected area of Na- Playa. able to erect their homes cies of flora and fauna to
journey of the islands past tional Park Arikok was of- with materials found in the be conserved to over 250.
offering unique geological, ficially established in 2000. Arikok is also home to Con- area. Two of these adobe On December 21st, 2018
cultural and historical sites. Arikok National Park is a chi, Aruba’s most impor- houses have been restored. (AB 2018 no. 77) Parke Ma-
These can all be enjoyed 34 square kilometers (7907 tant natural attraction; also Park rangers are learning rino Aruba – currently con-
and explored either on your acres) of natural area, lo- known as The Natural Pool. many of the old building sisting of four marine pro-
own or during guided tours. cated at the north-eastern The journey to the Pool is techniques in order to pre- tected areas (MPAs) – was
A wide variety of educa- part of Aruba which con- and adventure by itself and serve this unique Aruban officially established and
tional and informative pro- tains examples of most of only possible by foot, horse, mud-house. At Cunucu subsequently brought un-
grams and fun activities is the island’s flora and fauna ATV or 4×4 vehicle. Arikok and near Plantation der management of FPNA.
available. against a backdrop of great Prins you can find these In 2019 management plans
geological complexity. We Cultural and Historical adobe houses. will be established for the
Did you know that four of are proud to state that ap- components new MPAs which include:
the in total seven species proximately 18% of the total There are a number of sites Park Management coral reefs, sea grass beds,
of sea turtle lay their eggs land area of Aruba is as- within the park that attest For the management of the mangrove systems, a large
on Aruba's beaches? In the signed as a National Park, to the history of Aruba. The park, a dedicated foun- diversity of breeding sea-
national park, a Least Tern to protect and preserve the Caquetío Indians left rock dation “Fundacion Parke birds. Parke Marino Aruba
(Sternula antillarum) keeps a flora, fauna, geology and paintings in Cunucu Arikok Nacional Arikok” (FPNA), also contains potential shark
strict eye on a very special historical remains present and Fontein Cave. The bird known today as the Aruba nursery areas, endangered
event taking place below within Arikok National Park. drawing in the park logo is a National Park Foundation sea turtle nesting beaches
on the beach: a majestic copy of one of these histori- was established in July 2003. and marine mammal nurs-
Leatherback (Dermochelys The Landscape cal artistic expressions. In February 2017, mangrove ery areas.q
coriacea) heads back to There is a great geological and wetland RAMSAR site