Page 7 - aruba-today-20250210

A7
LOCAL Monday 10 February 2025
National Park Arikok: Aruba’s biggest nature conservation

The National Park Arikok to the history of Aruba. The the Aruba National Park
comprises almost 18 % of Caquetío Indians left rock Foundation was estab-
the island. Its rugged ter- paintings in Cunucu Arikok lished in July 2003. In Feb-
rain, desert-like hills filled and Fontein Cave. The bird ruary 2017, mangrove and
with tall cacti, breathtaking drawing in the park logo is wetland RAMSAR site #198
coastline and protected a copy of one of these his- Spanish Lagoon was an-
local flora and fauna wel- torical artistic expressions. nexed to Arikok National
come you to be explored. Park due to its importance
There are numerous ani- Old plantation (Cunucus) as a feeding and breeding
mals to discover, for ex- sites tell the story of an ac- area for water birds and as
ample the sea turtle who tive yet challenging agri- a nursery area for a variety
lays his eggs on the park’s cultural past. of marine organisms. With
beaches. this addition, the areas un-
These Cunucus were also der FPNA management
The national park Arikok residential areas for the increased by 70 hectares
takes you on a memorable few families that worked while the amount of spe-
journey of the islands past the land. These families cies of flora and fauna to
offering unique geological, found ways to survive in be conserved to over 250.
cultural and historical sites. the difficult conditions, and On December 21st, 2018
These can all be enjoyed were able to erect their (AB 2018 no. 77) Parke Ma-
and explored either on homes with materials found rino Aruba – currently con-
your own or during guided in the area. Two of these sisting of four marine pro-
tours. A wide variety of ed- adobe houses have been tected areas (MPAs) – was
ucational and informative restored. Park rangers are officially established and
programs and fun activities learning many of the old subsequently brought un-
is available. building techniques in or- der management of FPNA.
der to preserve this unique In 2019 management plans
Did you know that four of Aruban mud-house. At Cu- will be established for the
the in total seven species nucu Arikok and near Plan- new MPAs which include:
of sea turtle lay their eggs tation Prins you can find coral reefs, sea grass beds,
on Aruba's beaches? In the these adobe houses. mangrove systems, a large
national park, a Least Tern diversity of breeding sea-
(Sternula antillarum) keeps Park Management birds. Parke Marino Aruba
a strict eye on a very special The Landscape For the management of also contains potential
event taking place below There is a great geological Cultural and Historical the park, a dedicated shark nursery areas, en-
on the beach: a majestic variety within the park. The components foundation “Fundacion dangered sea turtle nest-
Leatherback (Dermochelys main aspects are the rough There are a number of sites Parke Nacional Arikok” ing beaches and marine
coriacea) heads back to hills of the volcanic Aruba within the park that attest (FPNA), known today as mammal nursery areas.q
sea after laying her eggs, lava formation, the mysteri-
while another nest laid 2 ous rocks of the batholithic
months ago by the same quartz-diorite/tonalite, and
female hatches—a very the limestone rocks from
rare occurrence of day- fossilized coral. The two
time nesting and hatching. tallest hills on the island are
Sea turtles prefer nesting in situated within the park.
the cool and dark hours of Jamanota hill 188 meters
the night. And hatchlings (617 ft) and Arikok hill 176
usually wait for the cue of meters (577 ft), from which
cooling surface sand be- the name of the park is de-
fore emerging. rived.

Nature Conservation The line of the permanently
The protected area of Na- wind-and-wave beaten
tional Park Arikok was of- North Coast is broken by
ficially established in 2000. several bays (boca’s). Most
Arikok National Park is a of them are small yet im-
34 square kilometers (7907 pressive inlets at the mouth
acres) of natural area, lo- of dry riverbeds. Some
cated at the north-eastern of these bays (boca’s)
part of Aruba which con- are spectacular sights,
tains examples of most of adorned with white, sandy
the island’s flora and fau- beaches and sand dunes,
na against a backdrop of as is the case at Boca Prins
great geological complex- and Dos Playa.
ity. We are proud to state
that approximately 18% Arikok is also home to Con-
of the total land area of chi, Aruba’s most impor-
Aruba is assigned as a Na- tant natural attraction; also
tional Park, to protect and known as The Natural Pool.
preserve the flora, fauna, The journey to the Pool is
geology and historical re- and adventure by itself
mains present within Arikok and only possible by foot,
National Park. horse, ATV or 4×4 vehicle.