Bonaire is the eastern-most Caribbean island in the 'ABC' island chain, made up of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao. Located in the Netherlands Antilles, often called the Dutch Caribbean, Bonaire is a mere 50 miles north of Venezuela, 30 miles east of Curacao and 86 miles east of Aruba. Bonaire covers 112 square miles, is 24 miles long and 7 miles across at its widest point. A small uninhabited island called Klein Bonaire (Little Bonaire) lies close to the western shore near the island's capital town, Kralendijk. The island's rich history dates back to 1499 when it was discovered by the Spanish. Long ago, the native population of Bonaire was the Arawak Indians. The Arawak Indian word for "Low Lands" was "Bojnay," which was adapted to the word, Bonaire. Much of the rich culture and diverse history of Bonaire can still be found in many of the island's landmarks, architecture and native population. The official language is Dutch but nearly everyone speaks English. The native language is unique and called Papiamentu, a mix of many different languages and spoken throughout the ABC islands. For additional Tourist Information, visit InfoBonaire and Rincon websites.