Zetaquirá

Municipality and town in Boyacá Department, Colombia

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Location of the municipality and town of Zetaquirá in the Boyacá Department of Colombia

Country

ColombiaDepartmentBoyacá DepartmentProvinceLengupá ProvinceFounded21 May 1765Founded byPedro LópezGovernment

• MayorOscar Yamid Ramírez López
(2020-2023)Area

• Municipality and town262 km² (101 sq mi)Elevation

1,665 m (5,463 ft)Population

(2015)

• Municipality and town4,557 • Density17/km² (45/sq mi) • Urban

1,059Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)WebsiteOfficial website

Zetaquirá (Spanish pronunciation: [setaˈkiɾa]) is a town and municipality in the Colombian Lengupá Province, part of the department of Boyacá. Zetaquirá is located at 67 kilometres (42 mi) from the department capital Tunja and borders Pesca in the north, Miraflores in the south, in the east Berbeo, San Eduardo and Aquitania and in the west Ramiriquí and Chinavita. The municipality stretches over an area of 262 square kilometres (101 sq mi) on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at altitudes between 1,875 metres (6,152 ft) and 3,600 metres (11,800 ft).^[1]

Etymology

Zetaquirá in Chibcha means "Land of the snake" or "City of the snake".^[1]^[2]

History

The central highlands of the Colombian Andes in the time before the Spanish conquest were inhabited by various indigenous peoples. The predominant culture was the Muisca, organized in a loose confederation. Zetaquirá was part of the reign of the zaque, based in Hunza, present-day Tunja. Other indigenous people in the vicinity of Zetaquirá were the Achagua and Tegua.

Modern Zetaquirá was not founded until May 21, 1765, by Pedro López.^[1]

Economy

Main economical activities of Zetaquirá are agriculture and livestock farming. Predominant agricultural products are coffee, sugar cane, maize, bananas, beans and arracacha.^[1] Tourism, mainly the thermal baths in the municipality, is another source of income.