Garagoa
Church of Garagoa
Church of Garagoa
Flag of Garagoa
Flag
Official seal of Garagoa
Seal
Location of the town and municipality of Garagoa in Boyacá Department
Location of the town and municipality of Garagoa in Boyacá Department
Coordinates: 5°04′57″N 73°21′51″W / 5.08250°N 73.36417°W / 5.08250; -73.36417
CountryColombia
DepartmentBoyacá
ProvinceNeira
Founded5 October 1809
Government
 • MayorFabio Augusto Arévalo
(2020-2023)
Area
 • City191.75 km2 (74.04 sq mi)
Elevation
1,650 m (5,410 ft)
Population
 (2015)
 • City16,944
 • Density88/km2 (230/sq mi)
 • Urban
13,654
Time zone-5
WebsiteOfficial website

Garagoa (Spanish pronunciation: [ɡaɾaˈɣoa]) is a town and municipality in Colombia, located in the Boyacá Department. It covers an area of 191.75 km2 and the urban centre is located at an altitude of 1,650 metres (5,410 ft) above sea level. Parts of the municipality reach altitudes of 3,050 metres (10,010 ft). It is the capital of the province of Neira. It is also the seat of the Diocese of Garagoa of the Catholic Church. The municipality is situated in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes and borders Chinavita in the north, Macanal in the south, Tenza and Sutatenza in the west and Miraflores and Chinavita in the east.[1]

Etymology

Garagoa in Chibcha means "Behind the hill" or "On the other side of the hill".[1][2]

History

In the times before the Spanish conquest, the area of Garagoa was inhabited by the Muisca, organized in their loose Muisca Confederation. Garagoa was ruled by the zaque based in Hunza. Garagoa was visited by conquistador Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada in 1539, and was elevated to municipal status on October 5, 1809.[1]

Economy

Main economical activities of Garagoa are agriculture, livestock farming and mining. Among the agricultural products, most important are maize, yuca, potatoes, arracacha, bananas, peas, beans, pumpkins, tomatoes, fique, coffee and sugar cane. Also mangoes, chirimoya, oranges, avocadoes, pineapples, mandarines, papayas, maracuyá and guayaba are produced. Mining is mostly coal.[1]

Trivia

References

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