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BONAIRE - NETHERLANDS ANTILLESThe Island Territory of Bonaire (Dutch: Eilandgebied Bonaire, Papiamento: Teritorio Insular di Boneiru) is one of five island areas (Eilandgebieden) of the Netherlands Antilles, consisting of the main island of Bonaire and, nestled in its western crescent, the uninhabited islet of Klein Bonaire. Together with Aruba and Curaçao it forms a group referred to as the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles, the southern island chain of the Lesser Antilles. As part of the Netherlands Antilles, Bonaire is accordingly a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The structure of the relationship between Bonaire, the Netherlands Antilles and the Kingdom is being considered for change under proposed legislation. This restructuring is still planned, but has been postponed to an indefinite future date. WHEN TO GO The peak season is from mid-December to mid-April when rates are high. Prices drop by up to 50 percent during the off-season. FACTS ABOUT BONAIRE - Location: Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - composed of five islands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the coast of Venezuela, and Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius lie east of the US Virgin Islands
- Geographical coordinates: 12 15 N, 68 28 W
- Area: 294 sq km
- Coastline: 127 km
- Max elevation: 248 m Brandaris mountain
- Population: 14,782
- Capital: Kralendijk
- Government: an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs
- Currency: Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
- Ethnic groups: mixed black 85%, other 15% (includes Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian)
- Languages: Papiamento 65.4% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect), English 15.9% (widely spoken), Dutch 7.3% (official), Spanish 6.1%, Creole 1.6%, other 1.9%, unspecified 1.8%
- Religions: Roman Catholic 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%, Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, other Christian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2%
- Internet Country Code: .an
- Calling code: 599
- Major Industries: Tourism, salt extraction
- Natural resources: salt
- Climate: tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds
- Average sea surface temp: 25.5 °C
- Average annual rainfall: 510 mm
- Average tourist arrivals: 74,309
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