Gachantivá

Municipality and town in Boyacá Department, Colombia
Flag of Gachantivá
Flag
Location of the municipality and town of Gachantivá in the Boyacá department of Colombia
Location of the municipality and town of Gachantivá in the Boyacá department of Colombia
Country ColombiaDepartmentBoyacá DepartmentProvinceRicaurte ProvinceFounded1715Founded byJuan José NeiraGovernment
 • MayorPedro Alonso Aguillón Puentes
(2020-2023)Area
 • Municipality and town66 km2 (25 sq mi)Elevation
2,450 m (8,040 ft)Population
 (2015)
 • Municipality and town2,654 • Density40/km2 (100/sq mi) • Urban
364Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)WebsiteOfficial website

Gachantivá is a town and municipality in the Ricaurte Province, part of the Colombian department of Boyacá. Gachantivá is located at altitudes ranging from 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) to 3,300 metres (10,800 ft) on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense and borders Villa de Leyva in the south, Santa Sofía in the west, Arcabuco in the east and Moniquirá in the north.[1]

Etymology

The name Gachantivá comes from Chibcha and means "chief of the Gacha".[1][2]

History

The area of Gachantivá before the Spanish conquest was inhabited by the Muisca, organised in their loose Muisca Confederation. The cacique of Gachantivá was loyal to the zaque of Hunza.

Modern Gachantivá was founded in 1715 by Juan José Neira.[1]

Economy

Main economical activities of Gachantivá are agriculture and livestock farming. Among the agricultural products cultivated are maize, potatoes, yuca, coffee, blackberries, beans and peas.[1]

Gallery

  • Central park
    Central park
  • Road to Paso del Ángel
    Road to Paso del Ángel
  • Paso del Ángel mountain
    Paso del Ángel mountain
  • Greenhouse in Gachantivá
    Greenhouse in Gachantivá
Panorama of the rural areas of Santa Sofía and Gachantivá

References

  1. ^ a b c d (in Spanish) Official website Gachantivá
  2. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Gachantivá - Excelsio.net
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Central Boyacá ProvinceNorthern Boyacá ProvinceWestern Boyacá ProvinceEastern Boyacá ProvinceGutiérrez ProvinceLa Libertad ProvinceLengupá ProvinceMárquez ProvinceNeira ProvinceRicaurte ProvinceSugamuxi ProvinceTundama ProvinceValderrama ProvinceBoyacá Frontier DistrictBoyacá Special Handling Zone

5°45′N 73°30′W / 5.750°N 73.500°W / 5.750; -73.500