Bonaire

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For other uses, see Bonaire (disambiguation).
Eilandgebied Bonaire
Teritorio Insular di Boneiru
Island Territory of Bonaire
Flag of Bonaire Coat of arms of Bonaire
Flag
Anthem: Tera di Solo y suave biento
Location of Bonaire
Capital
(and largest city)		 Kralendijk
12°15′N 68°28′W / 12.25, -68.467
Official languages Dutch, Papiamentu
Government See Politics of the Netherlands Antilles
 -  Administrator of Bonaire Herbert Domacassé
 -  Governor of N.A. Frits Goedgedrag
Constitutional monarchy part of the Netherlands Antilles 
Area
 -  Total 294 km² 
113 sq mi 
Population
 -  2006 census 14,006 
 -  Density 49/km² (ranked as part of N. A.)
99/sq mi
Currency Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
Time zone -4 (UTC-4)
Internet TLD .an
Calling code +599

The Island Territory of Bonaire (Dutch: Eilandgebied Bonaire, Papiamento: Teritorio Insular di Boneiru) is one of five island areas (Eilandgebieden) of the Netherlands Antilles, consisting of the main island of Bonaire and, nestled in its western crescent, the uninhabited islet of Klein Bonaire. Together with Aruba and Curaçao it forms a group referred to as the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles, the southern island chain of the Lesser Antilles.

As part of the Netherlands Antilles, Bonaire is accordingly a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The structure of the relationship between Bonaire, the Netherlands Antilles and the Kingdom is being considered for change under proposed legislation. This restructuring is still planned, but has been postponed to an indefinite future date.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Original Inhabitants

Bonaire's first inhabitants were the Caquetios Indians, a branch of the Arawak who, around 1000 AD, sailed from what is now Venezuela. Traces of Caquetio culture are at a number of archaeological sites, including those at Lac Bay and northeast of Kralendijk. Rock paintings and petroglyphs have survived at the caves at Spelonk, Onima, Ceru Pungi, and Ceru Crita-Cabai. The Caquetios were apparently a very tall people, for the Spanish dubbed the Leeward Islands 'las Islas de los Gigantes' (the islands of the giants).[citation needed]

[edit] Control

Bonaire was claimed for the Spanish by Amerigo Vespucci and Alonso de Ojeda in 1499. Under Spanish occupation, the natives were enslaved and transported to Hispaniola, but the island's physical resources were largely ignored. By 1526, the island was depopulated. That year, Juan de Ampues, regional governor, turned it into a cattle plantation and repopulated it with Indians.

In 1633, the Dutch, having lost the island of St. Maarten to the Spanish, retaliated by capturing Curaçao, Bonaire, and Aruba. While Curaçao emerged as a center of the slave trade, Bonaire became a plantation of the Dutch West India Company. A small number of African slaves were put to work alongside Indians and convicts, cultivating dyewood and maize and harvesting solar salt around Blue Pan. Slave quarters, rising no higher than a man's waist and built entirely of stone, still stand in the area around Rincon and along the saltpans as a grim reminder of Bonaire's repressive past.

The Netherlands lost control of the island twice, from 1800-1803 and 1807-1815. During these intervals, the British had control over the neighboring island of Curaçao, and, by extension, Bonaire. During the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II, Bonaire was a protectorate of Britain and the United States.

[edit] Geography

Bonaire is a popular tourist destination for both recreational diving and shore snorkeling.
Bonaire is a popular tourist destination for both recreational diving and shore snorkeling.
Bonaire Island and Klein Bonaire, from space, March 1996. The white and flat red areas in the south are salt flats.
Bonaire Island and Klein Bonaire, from space, March 1996. The white and flat red areas in the south are salt flats.
The Old Malmok lighthouse - in Washington Slagbaai National Park.
The Old Malmok lighthouse - in Washington Slagbaai National Park.

Bonaire has a land area of 288 km² (111 sq. miles), while Klein Bonaire is a further 6 km² (2.3 sq. miles). Bonaire's Afdeling Bevolking (census) office reported that the population of was 14,006 inhabitants as of December, 2006,[2] which gives Bonaire island proper a population density of 49 inh. per km².

Bonaire lies outside the hurricane belt, and is served by Flamingo International Airport.

Bonaire is world renowned for its excellent scuba diving and is consistently rated among the best diving and Caribbean diving locations in the world. Bonaire's license plates carry the logo Diver's Paradise (in English). The island is ringed by a coral reef which is easily accessible from the shore along the Western and Southern sides. Furthermore, the entire coastline of the island has been declared a marine sanctuary, preserving local fish life. Bonaire is also consistently recognised as one of the best destinations for snorkeling.

The coral reef around uninhabited Klein Bonaire is particularly well conserved, and it draws divers, snorkelers, and boaters.

Bonaire also has several coral reefs where seahorses are common.

Bonaire is also famed for its flamingo populations and its donkey sanctuary. Flamingos are drawn to the brackish water, which harbours shrimp they feed on. Starting in the 1500s, the Dutch raised sheep, goats, pigs, horses and donkeys on Bonaire, and the descendants of the goats and donkeys roam the island today.

Washington Slagbaai National Park, located at the north side of the island, is an ecological preserve. The highest point of Bonaire, Brandaris, located within this preserve has a complete view of the island.

Lac Bay, (also known as Lac Cai or Lac Cay) on the eastern side of the island, is a windsurfer's paradise. Locals Taty and Tonky Frans in 2004 were ranked in the top five of the world's freestyle windsurfing professionals.

Finally, Atlantis Beach, on the western part of the island, is the local kitesurfing spot.

[edit] Cities/Towns

The only generally recognized towns on the island are Kralendijk and Rincon.

Kralendijk has many suburbs/neighbourhoods (on an island with such a small population, the distinction is not always clearcut). Kralendijk's suburbs/neighbourhoods include:

  • Antriol
  • Belnem
  • Hato
  • Lima
  • Noord Salina
  • Nikiboko
  • Republiek
  • Sabadeco
  • Sabana
  • Santa Barbara
  • Tera Cora


Other smaller settlements include

  • Fontein
  • Lagoen
  • Sorobon
  • Spelonk
  • Wanapa

Several smaller towns had existed in the national park, but are now abandoned. They were: Labra, Ishiri, Kokorobi, Jan Doran, Vlijt, Rigot, Porto Spano, and Kunchi.

[edit] Languages

The official languages are Dutch, Papiamentu, and English. English became an official language of the Netherlands Antilles in March, 2007. In practice, it is not used for official purposes on Bonaire. Spanish and English are widely spoken on the island.

[edit] See also

[edit] Gallery

Homestead with a cactus fence.

A cactus fence.

Iguana.

The clear water of Bonaire.

Divers and a large orange sponge.

French Angelfish with dive boat in background.

Two Caribbean Reef Squid.

Divers and a large orange sponge.

Christmas tree worms in a brain coral.

Pederson's Shrimp.

Grey reef shark

Close-up of a Long-lure Frogfish.

Diver on the wreck of the Hilma Hooker.

Oscellated Frogfish.

Diver under the Salt Pier.

Sponges and Cup Corals at night on the Town Pier.

Freshly caught Wahoo by local fisherman.

[edit] References

 This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2008)
  1. ^ St. Maarten-St. Martin - Consensus, but no date set for new status
  2. ^ Bonaire Reporter February 9, 2007

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Government:

Island Information:

Nature:

News:

WebCams:

  • Breathe Bonaire - Live webcams from Bonaire (including the first megapixel underwater webcam)
  • BonaireWebCams.com - Live webcams from the island of Bonaire (including the Bonaire ReefCam)

Other Photos of Bonaire

Coordinates: 12°10′N 68°14′W / 12.16, -68.23

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