What continent is Aruba on?

If you’ve found yourself wondering if Aruba is part of South America, North America, or just the Caribbean, you’re not alone! In fact, the continent Aruba is located on is hotly debated.

This is largely due to Aruba’s location in the Southern Caribbean Sea, but it’s also confusing since it’s part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands – located all the way over in Europe. You could say when you take it all into consideration, Aruba’s continent is a bit perplexing.

Let’s take a deeper look.

Is Aruba in South America?

Looking at the map below, you may draw the logical conclusion that Aruba is part of South America, but are you right? We can break it down a few different ways to learn more based on the island groups that Aruba is part of: The ABC Islands, the Lesser Antilles Islands, and of course, the Caribbean Islands.

Which continent are the ABC Islands part of?

The classification of the ABC Islands, Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, as part of South America hinges on the definition of what constitutes being “part” of a continent. Typically, islands situated on a continent’s continental shelf are deemed part of that continent. By this criterion, these islands, along with others in its proximity, would be regarded as part of South America. After all, Aruba is located just 18 miles off the coast of Venezuela, a South American country.

Which continent are the Lesser Antilles part of?

If the ABC Islands are part of South America, this raises questions about other nearby islands, such as Trinidad and Tobago. While they are also geographically close to the mainland of South America, they form part of a volcanic island chain separate from the South America continental plate. Consequently, these islands and many others in the Lesser Antilles are generally not considered part of South America but rather part of North America.

You may find yourself thinking… if Aruba is part of the Lesser Antilles Islands, why is it South American when the rest of the Lesser Antilles are North American? Well, it sits 990 miles away from the primary area of the Lesser Antilles. This, plus its location on the South American continental plate, enables it to still be part of South America, while the rest of the Lesser Antilles are part of North America. (Not at all confusing… right?)

Which continent are the Caribbean Islands part of?

From a broader perspective, islands in the Caribbean Sea sit on the Caribbean tectonic plate. This makes them their own region, however it is categorized as part of North America in geographical terms.

Even in this scenario, the ABC Islands are split off and considered part of South America: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.

Final Answer: What continent is Aruba on?

Hopefully by now, you’ve concluded that Aruba is South American geographically, as well as Bonaire and Curacao. That’s right, the ABC Islands are in South America, Aruba included. They’re not just close together. They are part of the same continent!

Want to learn more about Aruba’s location? Read the full post: Location of Aruba.