Page 17 - AB

a7
local Wednesday 26 March 2025
National Park Arikok: Aruba’s biggest nature conservation

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