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a8 local
Saturday 11 November 2023

National Park Arikok: Aruba’s biggest nature conservation

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