In 1824, gold was discovered in Rooi Fluit on the north coast. Mining was done by hand until machinery was imported in 1854. In 1872, a large smelting works was built in Bushiribana, followed by another site twenty-five years later in Balashi. When World War I broke out in 1916, the mining of gold ceased for lack of materials required to purify the ores.
The city of San Nicolas, named after Shon Nicolaas van der Biest, a former landowner there, came into existence with phosphate mining in 1879; until 1914, Aruba exported the raw material which ultimately was treated and used as an artificial fertilizer. Other commercial endeavors have included the breeding of cochineal, a cactus insect that when dried and ground produces a coloring agent; watapana tree pods which contained tannin; minor cultivations of silkworms, tobacco, cotton and peanuts; and most importantly, aloe and oil refining.
At the beginning of twentieth century, one-third of the island was covered with aloe plantations and the island’s economy was largely dependent on it. At first, the harvest of aloe vera was only for the export of the raw material for laxatives. With clay moisture-retentive soil yielding a product of superior quality, Aruba became the largest exporter of aloe in the world. At the end of the 1950’s, interest was redirected to the gel and its concentrates for use in cosmetic, hair and skin care products.
The Lago Oil and Transport Company Ltd. was established in 1924, due to Aruba’s favorable geographical position and peaceful political climate. Thousands of immigrants arrived from the British and Dutch islands. The population grew and other types of commercial enterprises attracted merchants from eastern Europe and the Near East. In a matter of about fifty years, the population of the island experienced a seven-fold increase, from about 9,000 in 1924 to about 60,000 in 1972. There were more than 8000 employees at its peak in 1949. With an end to Venezuela’s preferential pricing, decreased demand, and competition with modern technology, the refinery closed down in 1985. Valero Energy Corporation has since taken over the refinery and still operates it today.
Over the past two decades, Aruba has become one of the most sought-after vacation destinations in the world. A stable government, safe environment, good weather all year-round, location out of the hurricane belt, convenient airlift, magnificent beaches, and its multi-lingual, friendly, and service-oriented population, continue to attract hundreds of thousands of tourists annually.
Courtesy of Destination Aruba Magazine |