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A10 LOCAL
Monday 16 SepteMber 2024

National Park Arikok: Aruba’s biggest nature conservation

The National Park Arikok in order to preserve this
comprises almost 18 % unique Aruban mud-house.
of the island. Its rugged At Cunucu Arikok and near
terrain, desert-like hills Plantation Prins you can
filled with tall cacti, find these adobe houses.
breathtaking coastline
and protected local flora Park Management
and fauna welcome you For the management of
to be explored. There the park, a dedicated
are numerous animals to foundation “Fundacion
discover, for example the Parke Nacional Arikok”
sea turtle who lays his eggs (FPNA), known today
on the park’s beaches. as the Aruba National
Park Foundation was
The national park Arikok established in July 2003. In
takes you on a memorable February 2017, mangrove
journey of the islands past and wetland RAMSAR site
offering unique geological, turtles prefer nesting in the fauna, geology and ATV or 4×4 vehicle. #198 Spanish Lagoon was
cultural and historical cool and dark hours of historical remains present annexed to Arikok National
sites. These can all be the night. And hatchlings within Arikok National Park. Cultural and Historical Park due to its importance
enjoyed and explored usually wait for the cue components as a feeding and breeding
either on your own or of cooling surface sand The Landscape There are a number of sites area for water birds and as
during guided tours. A wide before emerging. There is a great geological within the park that attest a nursery area for a variety
variety of educational and variety within the park. to the history of Aruba. of marine organisms. With
informative programs and Nature Conservation The main aspects are the The Caquetío Indians left this addition, the areas
fun activities is available. under FPNA management
The protected area of rough hills of the volcanic rock paintings in Cunucu increased by 70 hectares
National Park Arikok was Aruba lava formation, the Arikok and Fontein Cave.
Did you know that four of officially established in mysterious rocks of the The bird drawing in the while the amount of
the in total seven species of 2000. Arikok National Park batholithic quartz-diorite/ park logo is a copy of one species of flora and fauna
sea turtle lay their eggs on is a 34 square kilometers tonalite, and the limestone of these historical artistic to be conserved to over
Aruba’s beaches? In the (7907 acres) of natural rocks from fossilized coral. expressions. 250. On December 21st,

national park, a Least Tern area, located at the north- The two tallest hills on the 2018 (AB 2018 no. 77) Parke
(Sternula antillarum) keeps eastern part of Aruba which island are situated within Old plantation (Cunucus) Marino Aruba – currently
a strict eye on a very special contains examples of most the park. Jamanota hill 188 sites tell the story of an consisting of four marine
event taking place below of the island’s flora and meters (617 ft) and Arikok active yet challenging protected areas (MPAs) –
on the beach: a majestic fauna against a backdrop hill 176 meters (577 ft), from agricultural past. was officially established
Leatherback (Dermochelys of great geological which the name of the park and subsequently brought
coriacea) heads back to complexity. We are proud is derived. These Cunucus were also under management of
sea after laying her eggs, to state that approximately residential areas for the FPNA. In 2019 management
while another nest laid 2 18% of the total land area The line of the permanently few families that worked plans will be established
months ago by the same of Aruba is assigned as a wind-and-wave beaten the land. These families for the new MPAs which
female hatches—a very National Park, to protect North Coast is broken by found ways to survive in include: coral reefs, sea
rare occurrence of daytime and preserve the flora, several bays (boca’s). the difficult conditions, grass beds, mangrove
nesting and hatching. Sea systems, a large diversity of
Most of them are small and were able to erect breeding seabirds. Parke
yet impressive inlets at the their homes with materials
mouth of dry riverbeds. found in the area. Two of Marino Aruba also contains
nursery
shark
potential
Some of these bays these adobe houses have
(boca’s) are spectacular been restored. Park rangers areas, endangered sea
turtle nesting beaches and
sights, adorned with white, are learning many of the
sandy beaches and sand old building techniques marine mammal nursery
dunes, as is the case at
Boca Prins and Dos Playa.
Arikok is also home
to Conchi, Aruba’s
most important natural
attraction; also known
as The Natural Pool. The
journey to the Pool is and
adventure by itself and
only possible by foot, horse,