Summary: A geographical description of Curacao.
Are you having trouble finding Curacao on the world map? Are you wondering where you should start looking?
Curacao is an island in the Southwest of the Caribbean which is approximately 40 miles North of Venezuela. This island is the largest member of the Netherlands Antilles group.
Curacao is considered as one of the “ABC” islands, and is located West of Aruba and East of Bonaire. It is approximately forty miles in length and close to a hundred and eighty square miles. Flight from New York City takes about 5 hours and 40 minutes. Miami flights are around 2 hours and 50 minutes. Flights originating in Amsterdam last about 9 hours and 50 minutes.
It has an average temperature of 80F or 27C. Rainfall only reaches to 21″ during November and December. Sail boats find security in Curacao during the hurricane season as it is not located within the hurricane belt. Its population of about 145,000 uses Dutch as their official language. Curacao’s currency is the Netherlands Antilles Florin; however the U.S. dollar is widely accepted there with the exchange rate around FL1.79 to a $1.
Mount Christoffel, the islands highest peak, stands around 1230 feet or 375 meters. The eastern
part of Curacao, which is flatter, is divided at Santa Barbara by Tafelberg. The west part has three sharp hills, which are remnants of a three-million-year old reef are called Drie Gebroeders.
While Curacao in general, is famous for its beaches, the waters in different parts of the island vary. High waves coming in from the open seas smash into cliffs from the north end. These deep dark blue waters are an exact opposite to the calm southern coastline highlighted with the white sandy shores. Both parts of Curacao though has a lot of bays and inlets formed during the Ice Age. Schottegat, the busiest harbor, is the
biggest bay on the south end of Curacao as well.
The western and eastern parts are made up mostly of volcanic hills. These hills, locally known as “female hills”, were formed over the years from volcanic activities which geologists call as the Curacao Lava Formation. Rich soil, as a result of erosion from these soft hills, makes it the location for the island’s plantations.
Knowing it to be an island in the Caribbean will give you an idea where Curacao can be found on the world map. A thorough description of the island’s geographical location though, is the best way to know how to get there.
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