Gachalá

4°41′35″N 73°31′12″W / 4.69306°N 73.52000°W / 4.69306; -73.52000Country ColombiaDepartment CundinamarcaProvinceGuavio ProvinceFounded22 February 1810Founded byMariano de Mendoza y BuenoGovernment • MayorGermán Martínez Beltrán
(2016-2019)Area • Municipality and town448.29 km² (173.09 sq mi)Elevation1,712 m (5,617 ft)Population • Municipality and town5,715 • Density13/km² (33/sq mi) • Urban2,025Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)WebsiteOfficial website

Gachalá is a municipality and town of Colombia in the Guavio Province, part of the department of Cundinamarca. The urban centre of Gachalá is situated at a distance of 148 kilometres (92 mi) from the capital Bogotá at an altitude of 1,712 metres (5,617 ft) in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes. The municipality borders the western portion of the split municipality Ubalá and the department of Boyacá in the north, the eastern part of Ubalá and Medina in the east, Fómeque, Junín and Gama in the west and Fómeque, Medina and the department of Meta in the south.^[1]

Etymology

The name of Gachalá is derived from Chibcha and means "clay vessel of the night" or "defeat of the night".^[1][2]

History

Before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca, Gachalá was inhabited by the Chío tribe, belonging to the Muisca. As of 1548, the terrain of Gachalá belonged to the cacique of Guatavita.^[2]

Modern Gachalá was founded on February 22, 1810, by Mariano de Mendoza y Bueno.^[1]

Economy

Main economical activity in Gachalá is the hydroelectric plant of the Guavio Reservoir.^[2] Also emerald mining is an important source of income for Gachalá. The 858 carats (171.6 g) Gachalá Emerald was found in and named after Gachalá.

Born in Gachalá

• Gonzalo Correal Urrego, anthropologist and archaeologist

Gallery

References