or CURACAO, an island in the Caribbean Sea, lying off the N. coast of Venezuela, in Lat. 12° N., Long. 69° W. It is 40 miles in length from N.W. to S.E., and 10 in average breadth. The island is hilly and deficient in water, being wholly dependent upon the rains; yet considerable quantities of sugar, indigo, tobacco, and maize are raised. The shores, which are bold, are in some places deeply indented and present several harbours, the chief of which is Santa Anna, on the S.W. side of the island. The entrance, which is narrow, is protected by Fort Amsterdam and other batteries; but the harbour itself is large and secure, and is the port of the chief town Curacoa or Wilhelmstadt. Pop. (1847) 15,164, of whom 9728 were slaves. The island was settled by the Spaniards about 1527, and was captured by the Dutch in 1634. It was taken by the English in 1798 and again in 1806; but was restored in 1814 to the Dutch, in whose possession it has since remained.