Siachoque | |
|---|---|
Municipality and town | |
 Central square Siachoque | |
.svg) Flag | |
 Location of the municipality and town of Siachoque in the Boyacá Department of Colombia | |
| Country |  Colombia |
| Department | Boyacá Department |
| Province | Central Boyacá Province |
| Founded | 2 August 1556 |
| Founded by | Friar Jerónimo de Peralta |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jairo Grijalba Lancheros (2020–2023) |
| Area | |
• Municipality and town | 125 km2 (48 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,760 m (9,060 ft) |
| Population (2015) | |
• Municipality and town | 8,964 |
| • Density | 72/km2 (190/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 1,574 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time) |
| Website | Official website |
Siachoque is a town and municipality in theCentral Boyacá Province, part of theColombiandepartment ofBoyacá. Siachoque is situated on theAltiplano Cundiboyacense at a distance of 21 kilometres (13 mi) from the department capitalTunja. It bordersToca in the north,Rondón andViracachá in the south, in the east Toca,Pesca and Rondón and in the westSoracá andChivatá.[1]
The name Siachoque comes from theChibcha language of theMuisca people who inhabited the central highlands of present-day Colombia before theSpanish conquest. It is composed of the wordsSi; "here",a; "from, taste, smell",chó; "good" andque; "vigorous fortress", translating as "place of good smells and strong and vigorous cultures" or "Land of the vigorous taste".[1][2]
Siachoque was part of the looseMuisca Confederation, the former country in the ColombianAndes and thecacique of Siachoque was loyal to thezaque ofHunza. At the defeat of the latter the municipality became part of theNew Kingdom of Granada and modern Siachoque was founded on August 2, 1556 byfriar Jerónimo de Peralta.[1]
Main economical activities in Siachoque areagriculture;potatoes,Solanum phureja (papa criolla),maize,oat,barley andwheat,livestock farming and processing of meat and dairy products.[1]
