Chinavita

Municipality and town in Boyacá Department, Colombia

Flag

Location of the municipality and town of Chinavita in the Boyacá department of Colombia

Country

ColombiaDepartmentBoyacá DepartmentProvinceNeira ProvinceFounded12 September 1822Founded byJosé Joaquín Ramírez ZubietaGovernment

• MayorFiyer Alexander Urrego Bejarano
(2020-2023)Area

• Municipality and town148 km² (57 sq mi) • Urban

0.39 km² (0.15 sq mi)Elevation

1,763 m (5,784 ft)Population

(2015)

• Municipality and town3,528 • Density24/km² (62/sq mi) • Urban

1,219Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)WebsiteOfficial website

Chinavita is a town and municipality in the Neira Province, part of the Colombian department of Boyacá. The urban centre of Chinavita is located at 39 kilometres (24 mi) from the department capital Tunja on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense and the municipality borders Tibaná and Ramiriquí in the north, Ramiriquí and Miraflores in the east, Garagoa in the south and in the west Pachavita and Úmbita.^[1]

Etymology

The name Chinavita is derived from Chibcha and means "illuminated hilltop".^[1] Another explanation is "our hill".^[2]

History

The area of Chinavita before the Spanish conquest was inhabited by the Muisca. Chinavita was ruled by the zaque of Hunza.

Modern Chinavita was founded in 1822, before it was a vereda of Garagoa.^[1]

Economy

Main economical activities of Chinavita are agriculture and livestock farming. Agricultural products cultivated in Chinavita are potatoes, sugarcane, tomatoes, bananas, coffee and fique.^[1]