The island of Curacao is a tropical paradise. No wonder many tourists visit the island regularly. Curacao is regarded as one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean, a tropical paradise. Located at the southern part of the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela, the island of Curacao is the largest island in the Netherland Antillies. The island of Curacao is also part of the "Dutch Leeward Island" also known as the "Dutch Caribbean". The island of Curacao is oval shaped and is approximately 171 square miles in area with an arid and savanna like climate. It has an estimated population of 133,644 inhabitants.
The island's first inhabitants were the Caiquetios, an Arawa Indian group who first set foot on the island in 600 A.D. The island of Curacao was later discovered by Alonso de Ojeda of Spain in 1499. It was later reclaimed by the Dutch in 1642.
The capital city, which is Willemstad, is one of the largest ports in the world and played an important role in the trading enclaves of America. The island's capital was declared a "World Heritage Site" by the UNESCO in 1997 because of its colorful architecture.
Though it is located within the hurricane belt, the island of Curacao seldom experiences rain (rainfall does not exceed 21".). The island of Curacao is flat; its highest elevation is only 1,239 feet (Mount Cristoffel). Visitors to the island could get a glimpse of the local flora and fauna at the Cristoffel National Park which is located in the northern part of the island.
The northern coastline of the island of Curacao has no beaches. The place is mostly rocks and cliffs. But the southern coastline is just the opposite. There, you will see beaches with crystal clear and calm waters. The island of Curacao has plenty of undeveloped beaches just waiting to be discovered.
Shore diving is very popular on the island of Curacao because of its unique coastline. The island of Curacao's seafloor drops very steeply within a few hundred feet of the shore. The island of Curacao has no rivers. With the lack of rivers, and very little rain, the visibility in the island of Curacao's waters is very excellent. With more than 37 beaches visitors have a wide array of beaches to choose from.
Even though the island's climate is arid, there are lots of resorts and facilities there. Hotels are located near the beaches. But if you come to get away from the maddening crowd and the hustle and bustle and all the noise, the island of Curacao has lots of secluded beaches where you can enjoy swimming and sunbathing in peace and quiet, and maybe even in privacy, if the word doesn't get out before you get here. So come to the island of Curacao and leave all your cares behind while you relax, unwind, and enjoy our little slice of paradise.
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