Guachetá | |
|---|---|
Municipality and town | |
 Central square Guachetá | |
.svg) Flag  Seal | |
 Location of the municipality and town inside Cundinamarca Department of Colombia | |
  Guachetá Location in Colombia | |
| Coordinates:5°23′8″N73°41′8″W / 5.38556°N 73.68556°W /5.38556; -73.68556 | |
| Country |  Colombia |
| Department |  Cundinamarca |
| Province | Ubaté Province |
| Founded | 12 March 1537 |
| Founded by | Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Pablo Enrique Quicazán Ballesteros (2016-2019) |
| Area | |
• Municipality and town | 177.45 km2 (68.51 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,688 m (8,819 ft) |
| Population (2015) | |
• Municipality and town | 11,385 |
| • Density | 64.159/km2 (166.17/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 3,756 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time) |
| Website | Official website |
Guachetá is a municipality and town ofColombia in theUbaté Province of thedepartment ofCundinamarca. Guachetá is located at 118 kilometres (73 mi) from the capitalBogotá. It borders theBoyacá municipalities ofRáquira andSamacá in the north,Ubaté andLenguazaque in the south,Ventaquemada and Lenguazaque in the east and in the westFúquene and Ubaté. Guachetá is located on theAltiplano Cundiboyacense at altitudes between 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) and 3,500 metres (11,500 ft).[1]
When theSpanishconquistadores entered the central highlands of Colombia, they encountered theMuisca Confederation; territories of theMuisca. Guachetá was an independent territory within the confederation, led by acacique. The Spanish army leaderGonzalo Jiménez de Quesada founded Guachetá on March 12, 1537, and initially called itSan Gregorio because of the date. The Muisca spokeChibcha and Guachetá in Chibcha means "farmlands of the hill".[1]
One of the many stories of themythology of the Muisca is the myth of the virgin maid of Guachetá. The daughter of thecacique allegedly became pregnant through the forces of the Sun, represented in theMuisca religion bySué. After nine months pregnancy she bore anemerald that she put between her breasts. From this emerald grew the mythicalcaciqueGoranchacha; son of the Sun.[2]
The main economical activities of Guachetá areagriculture, particularlypotatoes,maize,peas andbeans,[1] along withcoal mining anddairy production.
| Gold |          | |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | ||
| Platinum | ||
| Nickel | ||
| Coltan | ||
| Emeralds | ||
| Coal | ||
| Salt | ||
| Sources | ||
