Page 13 - AHATA

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LOCAL Tuesday 19 sepTember 2023

National Park Arikok: Aruba’s biggest nature conservation

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