Curaçao, << `kyoor` uh SOH or `koo` rah SAH oh, >> is an island in the Caribbean Sea that is part of the Lesser Antilles island group. Since 2010, Curaçao has been an autonomous (self-governing) country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Previously, it was part of the Netherlands Antilles, which was a largely autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Curaçao covers 171 square miles (444 square kilometers) and has a population of about 166,000. Willemstad is the largest city on the island. A dry, nearly flat island, Curaçao has lovely beaches, warm weather the year around, and picturesque towns. These features attract many tourists. Most of Curaçao’s people are of African descent or have mixed African and European ancestry. The official languages are Dutch and Papiamento, a local Creole language. Industries on the island include petroleum refining, tourism, and light manufacturing. High unemployment has caused tens of thousands of people to move from Curaçao to the Netherlands.
Native American Arawak people were Curaçao’s first inhabitants. The Netherlands gained control of the island in 1634. From the 1600’s to the 1800’s, the Dutch brought many Africans to Curaçao to work as slaves.
