Aruba

No, the three islands don't have the same prime minister. The prime minister of Aruba is Michiel Godfried Eman [b. September 1, 1961]. He began his term on October 30, 2009.

Bonaire and Curacao used to be contained within the Netherland Antilles, but this was dissolved in 2010. Curacao is now its own country and has its own Prime Minister. Bonaire is considered to be a special municipality of the Netherlands, and does not have its own Prime Minister.

Aruba's climate is moderated by the trade winds. The trades are the prevailing pattern of easterly surface winds found in the tropics. The trades that affect Aruba blow from the northeast. In moving across the Atlantic from the northwest African coast, these winds drop rain on the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles. By the time the trades reach Aruba they're holding a scant amount of rain.

For a map of these and other prevailing winds, please visit the link provided below.

Southeast is the direction in which Aruba lies from Jamaica.

Specifically, Aruba is an island in the southernmost Caribbean Seas. It lies just 17 miles (27 kilometers) north of Venezuela's Caribbean coastline. In contrast, a distance of 591 miles(951 kilometers; 513 nautical miles) separates Aruba's capital city at Oranjestad from Jamaica's capital city at Kingston. It takes under 1.5 hours to fly from Kingston to Oranjestad. Additionally, the two cities are not in the same time zone. Kingston is one hour behind Oranjestad.

No, Ambien isn't supposed to be over the counter. It's a prescription medicine. It usually is prescribed for the short term treatment of insomnia. It's one of the trade names of zolpidem. Zolpidem is one of the most common sleeping medications prescribed in the Netherlands.

Prescriptions may be filled in Aruba. But they need the involvement of a doctor before the pharmacy staff can complete the order. In Aruba a pharmacy is called a 'botica'.

October, November and December are the months of Aruba's rainy season.

Specifically, Aruba's annual rainfall averages about 20 inches (51 centimeters) or less. The rainfall events cluster during the the late fall and early winter. But they tend not to turn into fierce or heavy rain storms since Aruba is on the southern fringes of the traditional Atlantic Caribbean hurricane belts.

The flag of Aruba reflects the country's harmony, diversity and uniqueness. The four-pointed star on the flag is unique, and the flag's colors have a natural, gentle harmony. The flag is uncomplicated yet has many layers of meaning.

Aruba and the other two ABC islands of Bonaire and Curacao are part of the Caribbean. But they're distinctive in their climate, culture, geography, history and language. Although small, Aruba has an interesting and diverse culture. Also although Aruba's natural beauty includes contrasts such as between the gentle west shoreline and the rocky east shore, the overall impression is the harmonious setting of an island culture within its marine environment.

No, there are no direct flights from Aruba to Cuba.

Specifically, Insel Airlines operates in the Caribbean. It schedules flights among the islands of the Lesser Netherlands Antilles. It therefore services Aruba and other Caribbean islands that are part of the European Kingdom of the Netherlands.

According to Living National Treasures, agaves and a cactus are plants unique to Aruba, and two species of lizards are unique to Aruba.

Specifically, Melocactus stramineus, with striking red flowers, is unique to Aruba.

Agave rutteniae and Agave arubensis are two agaves which uniquely inhabit

Aruba. The Aruba leaf-toed gecko (Phyllodactylus julieni) and the Aruba whiptail

(Cnemidophorus arubensis) are two lizards which only are found on Aruba.

The distance from Ozark, Alabama to Oranjestad, Aruba's capital, is 1,639 miles.

Specifically, that distance is equivalent to 2,638 kilometers. It is 1,425 nautical miles. Oranjestad is southeast of Ozark.

An Aruban florin has about half the value of a U.S. dollar.

Specifically, one Aruban florin is currently equivalent to 56 U.S. cents. One U.S. dollar ($1.00) is equivalent to 1.79 Aruban florins. As with the U.S. dollar, one Aruban florin is made up of 100 cents.

There are three (3) lighthouses on Aruba.

Specifically, the Seroe (Ceru) Colorado Lighthouse still is active. The current tower replaces the original wood tower and the second, square masonry tower. It is located on Aruba's southeastern tip.

The Wilhelm III Tower is inactive. It is part of Fort Zoutman. It therefore is located one block from the waterfront of Oranjestad, at Zoutman and Oranje Streets. It is inactive.

The Noordwestpunt Tower still is active. It is nicknamed California, in honor of the wreck of the British steamship California in 1891. It is located about 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) southeast of Aruba's northernmost point.

Yes, old Aruban coins have their worth. It's still possible to exchange your leftover Aruban currency into your home currency. Two easy sources for currency exchange are major airlines and major banks. Both sources have currency exchange desks. Also your leftover Aruban currency is valuable as a donation to UNICEF's [United Nations Children's Fund] Change for Good program.

Donations of leftover foreign currency, such as Aruban coins, have provided UNICEF with over $90 million for immunization and other child healthy programs throughout the world.

For information on UNICEF's Change for Good program and airline partners, please visit the links provided below.

No, the tsunami of March 11, 2011 did not reach Aruba.

Specifically, Aruba is an island in the south Caribbean. Between it and the Pacific Ocean are the seven (7) countries of Central America. The tsunami from Japan's earthquake reached the American coastal boundaries of the Pacific, but did not cross over land anywhere on the North and South American continents or on the Central American subcontinent.

The flight distance from Oranjestad, Aruba's capital, to Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA/KCWA) in Mosinee, Wisconsin, is 2,509 miles.

Specifically, that distance is equivalent to 4,037 kilometers. It is 2,180 nautical miles. The flight direction from Mosinee to Oranjestad is northwest.