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local Wednesday 17 January 2024
National Park Arikok: Aruba’s biggest nature conservation

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