Caribbean, 80km (50 miles) north of Venezuela.

GMT - 4.

290 sq km (112 sq miles).

14,006 (2006).

48 per sq km.

Kralendijk. Population: 3,061 (2006).

Bonaire is the second-largest island in the Netherlands Antilles and is located 80km (50 miles) north of Venezuela and 48km (30 miles) east of Curaçao. The landscape is flat and rocky and, owing to low annual rainfall, Bonaire has a fairly barren desert climate. The island has small, beautiful beaches and safe waters.

Part of the Netherlands Antilles. Bonaire is therefore a dependency of The Netherlands.

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, represented locally by Governor Frits Goedgedrag since 2002.

Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage since 2006.

The Netherlands Antilles consist of Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten. The capital of the island group is Willemstad, Curaçao.

The islands are self-governing although foreign affairs and defence are handled by the Dutch government. Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage is also leader of the Party for the Restructured Antilles.

Dutch is the official language. Papiamento (a mixture of Portuguese, African, Spanish, Dutch and English) is the commonly used lingua franca. English and Spanish are also widely spoken.

Predominantly Roman Catholic with a Protestant minority. There are many evangelical churches of different denominations, and a new mosque has also been erected on the island.

127 volts AC, 50Hz.

Dutch customs are still prevalent throughout the islands, although they are increasingly subject to US influence. Dress is casual and lightweight cottons are advised. Bathing suits should be confined to beach and poolside areas only. Nudity is prohibited on beaches except at Sorobon Beach Resort, a privately owned nudist resort.