The region was first inhabited by indigenous peoples known as Euparis in the Valley of Upar and Guatapuris in the Valley of the Cesar river, among these were the Orejones pertaining to the Toupeh, Acanayutos pertaining to theMotilon and Alcoholades pertaining to theChimila. The first European to explore the area was Spanish Captain Peter Vadillo, but GermanAmbrose Alfinger savagely conquered the region in 1532.[6]
From 1996 to 2006 paramilitary groups committed gross human rights violations affecting tens of thousands of victims in the Cesar mining region.
The "Cesar" name is an adaptation from theChimila indigenous wordChet-tzar orZazare ("calm water") into Spanish, in reference to theCesar River. The valley that its basin covers is also named after the river and extends through most of the department. The department of Cesar was created in 1967 by decree and the name officially adopted.[7]
The majority of the Department is flat in 57% of the total area and 43% mountainous mainly in the Serranía del Perijá and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain ranges.[8]
TheSerranía del Perijá mountain range covers most of the eastern side of the Department of Cesar between its border with Venezuela and theDepartment of North Santander, approximately 300 km in length penetrating into theDepartment of La Guajira to the north and covering 27% of the total area of Cesar. The Serranía del Perijá covers, partially or totally the area of 17 municipalities in the Department of Cesar; Aguachica, Codazzi, Becerril, Chimichagua, Chiriguana, Curumani, Gonzalez, La Gloria, La Jagua de Ibirico, Los Robles La Paz, Manaure, Pailitas, Pelaya, Rio de Oro, San Alberto, San Diego and San Martin. There are also the indigenous reserves pertaining to theYukpas people; Iroka, Socorpa and Menkue-Misaya-La Pista; and to the Wiwas people; Caño Padilla, El Rosario-Bella Vista-Yucatán and Campoalegre.[9]
Approximately 70% of the mountain range preserves unique flora and fauna and some 20 rivers are born in the mountain range among other minor streams, flowing into the Department of Cesar and feeding the Magdalena and Cesar river basins and the Cienaga de Zapatosa marshes. The Colombian government declared it a National Forest Reserve.[9]
TheSierra Nevada de Santa Marta as seen fromValledupar.
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range is an isolated mountain range located in the northwestern region of the Department of Cesar. The mountain range is shared with by Department of La Guajira, which covers the northern area, the Department of Magdalena to the western side and the Department of Cesar which covers the southern face, covering a total area of 16,615 km2 (1'661,500 ha) of which 380,000 ha pertain to the Department of Cesar. The Cesar River and the western side of its basin is born on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, including theGuatapuri, Badillo,Ariguani, Cesarito, Los Clavos, Garupal and Rio Seco rivers. The mountains are within the boundaries of the municipalities of Pueblo Bello, Valledupar, El Copey and Bosconia.[10]
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta was declared byUNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve on October 29, 1993.[11]
Climate in the Department of Cesar presents variations in climate depending on altitude, as well as rainfall precipitations. Mountain climate in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and the Serranía del Perijá become cooler with higher altitude, reaching freezing low temperatures on the snowy peaks. Lowlands average a temperature throughout the year of 28 °C or 82.4 °F.[12] These lower lands present a hot and drier climate, with annual precipitation less than 1,300 millimetres or 51 inches a year. The mountainous regions are characterized by low temperatures with snow on high altitude peaks and precipitation reaching more than 2,000 millimetres or 79 inches a year.
The region was first inhabited by indigenous peoples known as Euparíes in the Valley of Upar and Guatapuríes in the Valley of the Cesar River, among these were the Orejones pertaining to the Tupe, Acanayutos pertaining to theMotilon and Alcoholados pertaining to theChimila.
Spanish chronicles describe the tribes as being part of a federation of tribes led by a single chief (Cacique), with the village ofEupari as the largest and central to the other villages. These tribes are believed to be related to theMesoamerican culture, theCaribs andArawaks, directly associated to theMuisca culture in the Colombian eastern branch of theAndes.[16]
Archeological findings has shown that the indigenous in the area worked with stones and wood, including aboomerang shaped weapon found in a cemetery atLos Robles La Paz.[17]
In 1813, María de la Concepción Loperena proclaimed the independence of Valledupar and donated 300 horses toSimón Bolívar. In 1829 Valledupar became aCantón of theProvince of Santa Marta. By Law 15 of 1850, Valledupar was segregated from Santa Marta becoming the Province of Valledupar. In 1857 became a province of the State of Magdalena and by Law of December 29, 1864, became the Department of Valledupar pertaining to State of Magdalena. On December 21, 1967, the Department of Cesar was created officially.[6]
From 1996 to 2006 paramilitary groups committed gross human rights violations affecting tens of thousands of victims in the Cesar mining region. Prodeco, a subsidiary ofGlencore, and the USDrummond Company collaborated with the paramilitaries[20] in order to continue coal mining.[21]
Ciénaga de la Zapatosa marsh byLa Gloria, southern Cesar Department
The economy of the César Department is sustained by the agricultural sector, secondly by a services industry following with commercial industry and mining.Cattle raising is exploited extensively (using large farms), and for this reason large portions of forests have been chopped off to createcorrals. Inagriculture,plantations ofcotton,rice,sugar cane,oil palm,cassava andplantain. Services are centered on commerce and the industry is represented byoil products,fats andmilk derived products. As one of the biggestwater resources areas ofColombia, if not America, part of theMagdalena River crosses the Department and helps create theCienaga de Zapatosa (ZapatosaMarsh) along with the Cesar river. It has a great potential to develop afishing industry also.
The flag of the department consists of a white horizontal band between two green ones. The meaning ascribed to the green is that it symbolizes the fertile vegetation of the department, and to the white, that it stands for the hope of peace.[24]
^*Climatological information is based on monthly averages for the 30-year period 1971-2000. The averaging period for climatological information and the definition of "Mean Number of Precipitation/Rain Days" quoted in this web site may be different for different countries. Care should be taken when city climatologies are compared.
^"Reloj de Población".DANE. Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadísitica. Archived fromthe original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved6 July 2017.
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