Duitama

Duitama

Centre of Duitama

Flag
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Perla de Boyacá
("Pearl of Boyacá")

Location of the town and municipality of Duitama in Boyacá Department
Coordinates: 5°50′N 73°01′W / 5.833°N 73.017°W / 5.833; -73.017
Country  Colombia
Department Boyacá
Province Tundama Province
Founded July 27, 1819
Government
 • Type Municipality
 • Mayor Alfonso Miguel Silva Pesca
(2016-2019)
Area
 • City 266.93 km2 (103.06 sq mi)
 • Urban 8.86 km2 (3.42 sq mi)
Elevation 2,590 m (8,500 ft)
Population (2016)
 • City 113,105
 • Density 420/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
 • Urban 103,063
 • Metro 318,724
Demonym(s) Duitamense
Postal code 150461-69
Area code(s) +7
Website Official website
The city of Duitama built on the former lake, the surrounding hills were populated by the Muisca

Duitama (Spanish pronunciation: [dwiˈtama]) is a city and municipality in the department of Boyacá. It is the capital of the Tundama Province. Duitama is located 240 kilometres (150 mi) northeast of Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia and 50 kilometres (31 mi) northeast of Tunja, the capital Boyacá.[1] Duitama has existed since pre-Columbian times, when the Muisca inhabited the hills surrounding a former lake in the valley. The original name of Duitama was "Tundama", named after cacique Tundama. The elevation of the city is about 2,590 metres (8,500 ft) above sea level and the average temperature is 16 °C.[1] Duitama is known as "The Pearl of Boyacá".

Geography

Duitama, situated on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense is bounded to the north by the department of Santander; Charalá and Encino, to the south by the Boyacá municipalities of Tibasosa and Paipa, to the east with the municipalities of Santa Rosa de Viterbo and Floresta, and in the west with Paipa.[1]

Climate

Duitama - 2590 m
Climate chart (explanation)
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: Climate-data.org - Duitama

History

Main article: Tundama

Conquest of Duitama

Before the Spanish conquest, the Muisca were organized in a loose Muisca Confederation.[2] The confederation was composed of four main political and religious leaders, from south to north; the zipa based in Bacatá, the zaque of Hunza, the iraca of Sugamuxi and the Tundama of Duitama, then called Tundama. Additionally, more independent caciques governed other villages.

The Tundama ruled over the villages of Onzaga, Soatá, Chitagoto, Susacón, Icabuco, Lupachoque, Sátiva, Tutazá and Cerinza.[1] The Tundama lived on the hill currently called La Tolosa.

In 1536, Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada set foot from the Caribbean coastal city of Santa Marta towards the inner highlands of then unexplored Colombia with an army of 800 men. After conquering the southern areas of the Muisca, accessed from the shores of the Magdalena River he and a reduced number of troops marched towards the northern Muisca territories. He first submitted Hunza, the seat of the zaque and in September 1537 he arrived in Sugamuxi, sacred City of the Sun where his soldiers accidentally burned the Sun Temple.[3][4]

The cacique Tundama heard about the invading foreigners and tried to win time while hiding his treasures from the Spanish. One of his men proposed to surrender to the soldiers armed with superior weapons, and Tundama cut off his ears and left hand.

At the end of 1539, another Spanish conquistador who proved himself in the Kingdom of Quito and Peru, Baltasar Maldonado, entered the Tundama territories and after several battles Tundama surrendered to the Spanish rule. Tundama was killed by a hammer of Maldonado in late December 1539.[3]

Colonial period

During the colonial period of the newly established state New Kingdom of Granada, Duitama was converted to catholicism by friars of Santo Domingo, arriving in 1556. They held their positions until 1775.[1]

Modern Duitama was not founded until 1819, before Simón Bolívar liberated the later state of Gran Colombia from the Spanish rule.[1]

Modern age

Duitama was an agricultural community that grew after the installation of the train station in 1923 and the connection with the Colombian capital via highway. From 1950 onwards the city hosted more industry.[1]

International events

In 1995, Duitama was the second city in Latin America to host the UCI Road World Championships. The first city to host that event was San Cristóbal, Venezuela in 1977.

Tourism

In Duitama the touristic village Pueblito Boyacense is a popular destination. The village is composed of colonial houses.

Born in Duitama

Gallery

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (Spanish) Official website Duitama
  2. ↑ Muisca Confederation
  3. 1 2 (Spanish) Biography Cacique Tundama - Pueblos Originarios
  4. ↑ (Spanish) Iraca rulers - Pueblos Originarios

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Duitama.

Coordinates: 5°50′N 73°01′W / 5.833°N 73.017°W / 5.833; -73.017

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/22/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.