Origin of Name the most popular theory is that the Spanish named the island "Corazón" for its heart shape, which later became "Curaçao," derived from the Portuguese word for heart, "Coração"
Local Name Pais Korsou

Location about 34 mi (55 km) off the northern coast of Venezuela

Area 171 sq mi (444 sq km)
Coastline 226 mi (364 km)
Highest Point Mount Christoffel; 1,220 ft (372 m)
Lowest Point sea level
Natural Resources calcium phosphates

Population (2014 est) 146,830
Nationality Curaçaoan
Largest Cities Willemstad
Ethnic Groups Afro-Caribbean
Languages Papiamentu (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect), Dutch (official)
Religions Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Protestant, Adventist, Jehovah's Witness, Evangelical

Capital Willemstad
Form of Government constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (full autonomy in internal affairs; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs)
Present Constitution Adopted September 5, 2010
Chief of State King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (since April 30, 2013); represented by Governor Lucille A. George-Wout (since November 4, 2013)
Head of Government Prime Minister Bernard Whiteman (since September 1, 2015)
Cabinet Cabinet appointed by Governor
Legislature unicameral Estates of Curacao (Staten van Curacao)
Judiciary Common Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

Unit of Currency Netherlands Antilles Guilder
Per Capita Income $15,000
Principal Industries tourism, petroleum refining, petroleum transshipment, light manufacturing
Agricultural Products aloe, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit
Principal Exports petroleum products
Principal Imports crude petroleum, food, manufactures

National Holiday Queen's Day, April 30 (Birthday of Queen-Mother Juliana and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter Beatrix in 1909 and 1980, respectively)
Flag on a blue field a horizontal yellow band somewhat below the center divides the flag into proportions of 5:1:2; two five-pointed white stars - the smaller above and to the left of the larger - appear in the canton; the blue of the upper and lower sections symbolizes the sky and sea respectively; yellow represents the sun; the stars symbolize Curacao and its uninhabited smaller sister island of Klein Curacao; the five star points signify the five continents from which Curacao's people derive

SEE ALSO
Venezuela
Queen Juliana

Questions or comments about this page?

SKC Films Library >> American History >> Caribbean Islands >> Curaçao

This page was last updated on 04/09/2017.