Geography of Curaçao

[1] The coastline's bays, inlets and hot springs offer a source of natural minerals, thermal conditions, and seawater used in hydrotherapy and mesotherapy, making the island one of many balneoclimateric areas in the region.

[citation needed] Curaçao is semi-arid, and as such has not supported the numerous tropical species of mammals, birds, and lizards most associated with rainforests.

Dozens of species of hummingbirds, bananaquits, orioles, and the larger terns, herons, egrets, and even flamingos make their homes near ponds or in coastal areas.

[citation needed] Other than field mice, small rabbits, and cave bats, Curaçao's most notable animal is the white-tailed deer.

[citation needed] There are several species of iguana, light green in colour with shimmering shades of aqua along the belly and sides, found lounging in the sun across the island.

The iguanas found on Curaçao serve not only as a scenic attraction but, unlike many islands that gave up the practice years ago, remain hunted for food.

[citation needed] Because Curaçao lies North of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and in an area of low-level divergence where winds flow parallel to the coast, its climate is much drier than expected for the northeastern side of a continent at its latitude.

Curaçao lies outside the Main Development Region for Atlantic tropical cyclones, but is still occasionally affected by them, as with Hurricane Hazel in 1954, Anna in 1961, Felix in 2007, and Omar in 2008.

Curaçao has, however, been directly affected by pre-hurricane tropical storms several times; the latest being Hurricane Tomas in 2010, Cesar in 1996, Joan in 1988, Cora and Greta in 1978, Edith and Irene in 1971, and Francelia in 1969.

Tomas brushed past Curaçao as a tropical storm, dropping as much as 265 mm (10.4 in) of rain on the island, nearly half its annual precipitation in a single day.

[10] Average temperatures have risen sharply in the past 40 years in the Caribbean Netherlands and Curaçao has experienced more warm days and fewer cooler nights.

This formation includes deepwater deposits of calcareous sands and fine clays, capped by siliceous chert containing radiolarians.