Soatá | |
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 View of Soatá | |
.svg) Flag | |
 Location of the town and municipality of Soatá in Boyacá Department | |
  Soatá Location in Colombia | |
| Coordinates:6°20′N72°40′W / 6.333°N 72.667°W /6.333; -72.667 | |
| Country |  Colombia |
| Department | Boyacá |
| Province | Northern Boyacá Province |
| Founded | 10 December 1545 |
| Founded by | Juan Rodríguez Parra |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Mayor | Carlos Javier Gutiérrez Sandoval (2020-2023) |
| Area | |
• City | 136 km2 (53 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,950 m (6,400 ft) |
| Population (2016) | |
• City | 7,069 |
| • Density | 52.0/km2 (135/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 5,237 |
| Website | Official website |
Soatá is a town andmunicipality inBoyacá Department,Colombia. Soatá is located on the western slopes of theCordillera Oriental mountain range, at the northeast end of the Department of Boyacá. It is the capital of theNorthern Boyacá Province. Soatá bordersBoavita in the east,Tipacoque in the north,Susacón in the south and in the west it borders the municipalityOnzaga of the department ofSantander.[1]
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Soatá in theChibcha language of the Muisca meanstillage of the Sun.[2]
Soatá was already populated during theHerrera Period and at the time of theSpanish conquest, Soatá was inhabited by theMuisca. The village was part of the rule of thecaciqueTundama from the city with the same name, presently known asDuitama.
The inhabitants of Soatá are descendants of a mix of Muisca, Caribbean and Choques. Modern Soatá was founded by sergeant Juan Rodríguez Parra in 1545.[1]
In 2005 Soatá had a population of 8.730 inhabitants[3] of which 63% living in the urban zone and 47% live in the eight subdivisions that comprise the rural area. The subdivisions (veredas) are: Los Molinos, La Laguna, Llano Grande, El Espinal, La Chorrera and La Costa.The urban center of Soatá is located at an elevation of 1,950 metres (6,400 ft) above sea level.[1]
Its economy is of subsistence and it characterizes byagriculture and the cattle ranch in form of minifundios, standing out the cultures of thesugar cane,coffee,tobacco,tomatoes,maize,wheat,barley, fruit trees,dates and flowers.[1]
The cattle sector is distinguished by the presence of goat, pigs and cows.
In the industrial sector, one stands out the production of bricks, floor pieces, canvas shoes, straw hats, panela and bee honey; it excels the elaboration of candies and treats. The production of dates has gained Soatá the title ofcity of the date palm of Colombia.
Soatá counts on tourist potential by the wealth of its cultural expressions, standing out its gastronomy, natural variety of landscapes and scenic places.
In theSoatá Formation, a brownshale andsiltstone sequence defined in and named after Soatá, fossil remains of thePleistocene generaNeochoerus,Odocoileus and the speciesHaplomastodon waringi have been found.[4]
Touristic sites of Soatá are:
Soatá is becoming a popular destination for birders, as a number of Colombianendemic species can be found in the area, includingChestnut-bellied hummingbird,Niceforo's wren,Colombian mountain grackle andApical flycatcher.[5]
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