About Bonaire
Bonaire (Papiamento: Boneiru) is an island in the Caribbean that administrative and public body forms a special municipality in the Netherlands. It is located in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Venezuela, and belongs to the ABC islands of the Lesser Antilles. The capital of Bonaire is Kralendijk, a corruption of Corals Dike (dyke of coral). Rincon is the oldest settlement, Spanish for "corner".History
The first inhabitants of Bonaire were Caiquetios Indians who reached the island from Venezuela around 1000 AD Chr. Remnants of these include Indians found in the form of rock paintings in the vicinity of Onima on the east coast of Bonaire.In 1499 Alonso de Ojeda landed and Amerigo Vespucci as one of the first Europeans on Bonaire. They took possession of the island for Spain. Because Bonaire and had no gold was not suitable for agriculture did not need the Spanish colony. The local Indians were taken as slaves to serve in plantations in South America. In 1526 the Spaniards introduced cattle on Bonaire. As a consequence, donkeys (or buriku) and goats (or kabritu) in the wild.
Meanwhile there was a small community on the island in the town of Rincon, in a valley between the hills was safe for pirates. The people of this community were mostly convicts and prisoner of war.
In 1633 the Spaniards conquered Bonaire Netherlands. It came under the authority of Wouter van Twiller, governor of New Netherlands, and came under control of the West India Company. These imported a small number of slaves for agriculture (mainly wood, corn and salt). Slaves who worked in the salt, slaves lived in huts at the salt pans, slightly higher than 2 meters. These huts are still visible on south Bonaire. Slavery was abolished in 1863.
In the early nineteenth century saw the domination of the Netherlands Antilles twice to Great Britain. In 1816 when the islands were assigned permanently to the Netherlands, the Dutch government built Fort Orange in Bonaire to protect the island. The characteristic lighthouse in the fort was built in 1868. Salt was now the largest source of income for the island. The production was so large that four obelisks were built for the ships to the salt pans to lead. Meanwhile, the salt is mainly used for dishwashers and salt for icy roads. The rights of AKZO, a number of years ago repeated to Cargill, an American company.
In the twentieth century, eventually building the two jetties which replaced the large cruise ships can dock and was simply the airport, Flamingo Airport, built. In 1936, men were given voting rights. During World War II was the place where now the Divi Flamingo Hotel stands as a concentration camp for prisoners of war Germans and Dutch Nazis. Under Queen Juliana of the Netherlands Antilles in 1954 were an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Nature
Washington Slagbaai National Park
The whole point north of Bonaire is a protected area, the Washington Slagbaai National Park. The park, 6000 acres, was established in 1969 as the first park of the Netherlands Antilles. It houses a variety of habitats, including dunes at the boca's (bays) on the north coast, the Salinas (salt lakes), the pos (sources) and mountains. The park is rich in birds and other animals, including lizards and iguanas. Within the park are two areas that are internationally recognized as an important wetland under the Ramsar convention saliña Slagbaai and Lake Goto. Also from a cultural historical perspective, the park is of great significance, partly because the plantations and the history of Battle Bay. At the entrance of the park is an interesting museum. From the entrance are some walks off. The park is easily accessible by car and mountain bikers are also welcome.Bonaire National Marine Park
Bonaire National Marine Park is a legally protected underwater park that the whole island of Klein Bonaire and surrounds.The park was created in 1979 by, among other support from the World Wildlife Fund and is managed by the National Parks Foundation Bonaire (Bonaire STINAPA). Off the coast lies the island of Klein Bonaire. There are about sixty dive sites. The park is one of the best diving locations in the world.
Klein Bonaire
The coast of Kralendijk lies the island of Klein Bonaire. The island is 700 hectares, entirely flat and only covered with small bushes and cacti. On the island are sure about 76 plants and 55 animal species. It is surrounded by a coral reef. The beaches on the north and west are the most important nesting sites for sea turtles. On the island there are also several salinas, or salt lakes. This foraging flamingos, Bonaire is one of the largest flamingo populties world. For this reason and because of the pristine coral reefs and beaches for nesting sea turtles, the island is protected as a wetland of international importance by the Ramsar convention. With the growth of dive tourism in Bonaire developers wanted to build hotels on Klein Bonaire. Just before the turn of the century, the island with the help of the Netherlands, WWF and other conservationists by the Bonaire purchased and secured. Since 2001, Klein Bonaire, a legally protected area. The island is accessible by boat for divers, snorkelers and day trippers.
Lac
Lake is a beautiful shallow lagoon in the southeast of Bonaire. The area of 700 hectares is lined with mangroves. Lac is part of the protected Marine Park and is designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. The bay is unique because of the presence of seagrass and mangrove. Part of the mangroves is the limited access virtually undisturbed and thus important resting area for birds. Lac is an important resting place and breeding ground for numerous birds and marine invertebrates, including the Queen or the shell Karko. Previously, this was shellfish in their thousands, but overfishing is the population largely eradicated. The area has a nursery for reef fish and the feeding area for the Green turtle.Salt Lake
The Salt Lake and the flamingo reserve (800 hectares) are part of the large wetland in the southwest of the island. This area is still being extracted salt. It is also the most important food and habitat for flamingos. A beautiful blend of economy and ecology. In this environment there are, depending on the season, between 2000 and 7000 flamingos. The reserve is the most important flamingo breeding ground for flamingos in the southern Caribbean. The total population that migrates between Bonaire and South America is estimated to be 20,000 copies. The flamingo makes special demands on its environment (water, rest) and is very sensitive to disturbances. The Salt Lake and the flamingo sanctuary designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar convention. Bonaire, the flamingo, the symbol of the island continue to actively protect. The birds get peace and quiet.Salinas and caves
Salinas salt lakes or bays by a barrier of dead coral cut off from the sea. They have an important function because they ensure the collection and filtration of (rain) water. This prevents soil particles and nutrients wash into the reef and that lead to damage to the corals. This function is especially crucial during heavy rainfall. Salinas is also an important feeding area for numerous waterfowl. Slagbaai, Goto, Salt Lake and Klein Bonaire Salinas on Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Bonaire has dozens of caves. If geological appearance they give a picture of the early history of the island. In several places are caves with rock paintings, by the original Indian inhabitants of Bonaire. Some caves offer housing for bats or the blind Typhlatia shrimp. Bats play a useful role in the ecosystem: they absorb large amounts of insects (including mosquitoes) or are responsible for the pollination of flowers, including those of cacti. The greatest threat to bats is the destruction or disruption of their habitats.
Source: Wikipedia