Location
The Island Territory of Bonaire is one of five island areas of the Netherlands Antilles, consisting of the main island of Bonaire and the uninhabited islet of Klein Bonaire. Together with Curaçao and Aruba it forms a group referred to as the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles, located off the coast of Venezuela

Size
Total area is 294 sq. km (113 sq. miles).

History
Bonaire's first inhabitants were the Caquetios Amerinds from the Arawak tribe, who migrated there from Venezuela around 1,000 AD. 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). Bonaire was claimed for the Spanish by Amerigo Vespucci and Alonso de Ojeda in 1499. The natives were enslaved and transported to Hispaniola leaving the island's physical resources untouched. In 1633, the Dutch, having lost the island of St. Maarten to the Spanish, retaliated by capturing Curaçao, Bonaire and Aruba. Bonaire became a plantation of the Dutch West India Company. The Netherlands lost control of the island twice and during these intervals, the British had control over the Bonaire. During the German occupation of the Netherlands during WWII, Bonaire was a protectorate of Britain and the United States. Now Bonaire is primarily a tourist destination known for its world-class scuba diving.

Population
14,006

Capital
Kralendijk located on the central west coast of the island towards the north.

Government
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 a change under proposed legislation. This restructuring is still planned, but has been postponed to an indefinite future date. The islands of Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius (BES-islands) operate in many ways as regular Dutch municipalities.

Language
Official languages are Dutch, Papiamento and English. English became the official language of the Netherlands Antilles in March 2007. Spanish and English are widely spoken on the island.

Climate
Average temperature is 82 degrees F. Average annual rainfall is 22 inches Bonaire is outside the hurricane belt.

Tourism Activities & Sightseeing
Bonaire is world renowned for its excellent scuba diving and is consistently rated among the best diving in the world. Famed for its flamingo populations and its donkey sanctuary Windsurfing at Lac Bay on the eastern side of the island. Archaeological sites where rock paintings and petroglyphs have survived at the caves at Spelonk, Onima, Ceru Pungi and Ceru Crita-Cabai. The Flamingo Colonies near Goto-meer. Historic Dutch buildings, the slave huts at Rode Pan and the Solar Salt Works nearby. Arawak Indian cave paintings at Boca Omina. Museo di Boneiru Beach, Washington - Slagbaai National Park. The Bonaire Marine Park. Willemstoren Lighthouse, Dos Pos, Rincon, Klein Bonaire, Lac Bay.

Airports
Flamingo International Airport. Located a short drive from Kralendijk, the capital.

Currency
The Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)

Electricity
Although the standard voltage on Bonaire is supposed to be 127, it can vary higher or lower. The cycles pretty much remain at 50 HZ.

Time zone
Atlantic Standard Time zone, one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time (except when Eastern daylight Savings time is in effect then it's the same) GMT-4

Driving
On the right.

Flag

The Official Website of Tourism Corporation Bonaire
www.tourismbonaire.com