Page 10 - aruba-today-20240819

A10 LOCAL
Monday 19 august 2024

National Park Arikok: Aruba’s biggest nature conservation

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