CAQUETA Inhabitant: Caqueteño
This great land of the Colombian Amazonía acquired the rank of department in 1981.
Its surface, which stretches from the eastern mountain range toward the departments of the Amazonas and Guaviare in the southeast, is almost flat and covered with rainforest. Besides the eastern mountain range, other important elevations in the Amazon plains area are Cumare hill and the Araracuara mountain range.
The department's total area is 88,965 square kilometers and borders the departments of Meta, Huila, Cauca, Guaviare, Amazonas and Putumayo. Caquetá became a department in 1981.
There are plenty of rivers, such as the Caquetá, Caguán, Orteguaza, Yarí and Apaporis. In some cases these rivers play an important role as methods of communication.
Natives from the Macaguaje Andaquí, Koreguaje and Tama tribes inhabited the territory before the Spaniards arrived.
The area's colonization began only after 1930. The department's current a population is 460,000.
The region is very rich in flora and fauna. The main source of Caquetá's wealth is livestock, placing fourth in national production. Although its soil is acidic, there are banana, yucca, corn, rubber and sugar cane fields. Wood, medicinal plants and resins are also exploited.
The national natural parks of Los Pinachos and Chibiriquete are found in Caquetá. Other tourist destinations are the archaeological site El Encanto and the Ethnographic Museum of Caquetá.
Capital: Florencia
The entrance to the great Amazon jungle, Florencia is the Colombian Amazonía's most important city.
It was founded by missionary Capuchins on December 25, 1902 at the foot of the eastern mountain range and on the banks of the El Hacha river.
It has been the capital of Caquetá since 1950. Its average temperature is 27 degrees Celsius.
Florencia has approximately 140,000 inhabitants. It is a small but booming city. It is surrounded by beautiful landscapes and spectacular views, such as the incomparable sunsets, the likes of which are rarely seen in the rest of Colombia.
The Flag of
Caqueta
The Emblem
of Caqueta
To listen to the songs from that region,
click on the speaker below .
The Anthem of Caqueta (In Spanish)
Composer:Ismael Téllez Valenzuela
Chorus
Caquetá, orgullo de Colombia
Caquetá, progreso y bienestar
Caquetá, eres toda armonía
Caquetá, bella tierra inmortal.
Tus ciudades, tus selvas y tus ríos,
A l igual que tu hermosa capital.
Las alegran las aves con sus trinos
Circundando tu ambiente tropical.
I
Recordemos los egregios colonos
Con sudores supieron formar
Un emporio de riquezas que tenemos
Caquetá muy digno para amar.
II
Apreciemos también las realidades
Que demuestran progreso sin igual
Y al unísono de cánticos marciales
Digamos siempre: grandioso Caquetá.
III
¡Oh! Valientes primeros pobladores
nos legaron la honra y el valor
y sus hijos los colonizadores
su memoria invocamos con amor.
IV>
Recordemos los egregios colonos
Con sudores supieron formar
Un emporio de riquezas que tenemos
Caquetá muy digno para amar.
V
Apreciemos también las realidades
Que demuestran progreso sin igual
Y al unísono de cánticos marciales
Digamos siempre: grandioso Caquetá.
National Natural Parks
Alto Fragua – Indi Wasi
Location : Region of Caquetá.
Area: 68,000 hectares.
Chiribiquete
Location: Region of Caquetá and Guaviare.
Area: 1,280,000 hectares.
Cordillera de Los Picachos
Location: On the axis of the eastern Cordillera. Region Caquetá, Huila and Meta.
Area: 439,000 hectares.
Other Municipalities and towns
Puerto Rico, San Vicente del Caguán, Cartagena del Chaira, Valparaíso, El Doncello, La Montañita, Belen de Andaquies, awarded in 2001 for having the most beautiful towns' name. In 1997 the municipality was awarded the Democracy price.
Annual Events
June: Caquetá's folk festival (Florencia) – "El Sanjuanero" department contest (Florencia).
November: Agroindustrial festival (Florencia).
December: "El Colono de Oro" Music Festival (Florencia).
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