Aruba was settled as early as 1000 AD by the Caquetios Indians of the Arawak tribe. The first European to discover Aruba was the Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda. He arrived in 1499 and claimed Aruba for Spain. In 1636 the Dutch took over, however. They remained in control for around 200 years. During which time the English had control for a short time during the Napoleonic wars.
In 1986 Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles. It became an independent member of the King of the Netherlands. The country was on its way to becoming a fully independent country when Aruba decided it would like to stay part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The island experienced a gold rush in the 19th century. There also was an oil refinery build there in 1924. Today the country is a tourist spot and much of its economy is based on tourism.
The Geography of Aruba
Total Size: 193 square km
Size Comparison: slightly larger than Washington, DC
