MAGDALENA
Inhabitants: Magdalenenses
The department of Magdalena is located in the north of Colombia and bordered by the Caribbean Sea and by the departments of Bolívar, Atlántico, Cesar and La Guajira.
In Magdalena, you will find the majestic Sierra Nevada (a snow-covered Mountain), the Sierra Nevada National Park, Santa Marta's
Cienaga Grande flora and fauna sanctuary and the Island of Salamanca. Deep in the jungle, there is "La Ciudad Perdida" (the “Lost City”), which was discovered in 1975, an ancient city of the Tayrona tribe, It is the 20 th century's largest archaeological find in the Americas. The famous Bahía Concha and Cañaveral beaches are also located in this department.
Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the land was populated by the native Tayrona tribes. Alonso de Ojeda was the first Spaniard to step onto Magdalena's territory. Twenty-six years later, Rodrigo de Bastidas founded the city of Santa Marta, the central city of Santa Marta province. In 1857, the region was named State of Magdalena and it became a department in 1886.
Due to its large geographical size (23,188 square kilometers), its economic sources are diverse: agriculture (African palm, rice, sorghum, corn, cotton, coffee and banana crops as well as raising livestock), livestoch and fishing in both the sea and river and mining (petroleum, magnesium, calcareous and limestone).
Magdalena has about 1,410,000 inhabitants.
Capital: Santa Marta
If you are looking for delight and beauty, Santa Marta has it all. Beautiful beaches, ecological and historic places, hotels, nightlife and happy and welcoming people.
The city's population is around 320,000 and it is one of the important ports in Colombia.
Built at the foot of the impressive Sierra Nevada, Santa Marta attracts thousands of tourists with different kinds of interests. Sun worshippers and lovers of water sports, enthusiasts frequent the sandy beaches of
El Rodadero, history buffs visit museums like the remarkable Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino, where the Liberator Simón Bolívar died. Archaeologists travel through the Lost City and the
Pueblito and nature lovers are delighted with their wonderful parks, where they join other visitors seeking peacefulness and rest in this small but captivating city.
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