CHOCÓ
Inhabitant: Chocoano
The territory of Choco is located in northwest Colombia and borders the
Pacific Ocean, Panama, the Caribbean Sea, Antioquia, Risaralda and Valle
del Cauca. It has an area of 46,530 square kilometres and nearly 650,000
inhabitants.
Four geographical regions can be recognized: the stripe of the seaboard,
the mountainous region of Baudó, the basins of the Atrato and San
Juan rivers and the western side of the western
cordillera
(mountain range).
This department has the region's highest degree of humidity, hot
temperatures, exuberant vegetation and intense rain, so economic
activity is precarious. A very thick and flooded rainforest known as the
Tapón del Darién (“Darien's blockage”) is found
in the valley of the Atrato river.
Chocó's main source of income comes from the gold mining
industry, as it is the second-largest producer of that precious metal in
Colombia. The San Juan River valley is one of the richest platinum
regions in the world, so platinum mining is another important economic
activity. Silver and copper are also mined in Chocó. There is
also an abundant exploitation of petroleum and wood and there is
considerable banana, coconut, cacao, rice and corn production in the
region of the Gulf of Urabá.
The
Chocoano territory was inhabited by the Chocoes, Cradle,
Emberas and Baudoes native tribes. In 1501, Rodrigo de Bastidas was the
first Spanish conqueror to arrive in the region. In 1510, Martin
Fernández of Enciso founded Santa María La Antigua del
Darién, the first Spanish village in Colombian territory. The
population of Chocó is mostly African descendants. Some of them
mixed with white and native people. Sixty-seven per cent of the
population of Chocó live in rural areas, where there are 82
native reserves.
Chocó has some beautiful natural parks such as the one located on
the Utría Inlet, the Katíos and Tamaná.
Chocó has two important seaports. One of them located in
Bahía Solano on the Pacific Ocean and the other one in
Acandí, on the coast of the Caribbean Sea.
Capital: Quibdó
This city was founded in the year of 1648 with the name of
Citará. It was then reconstructed by two Jesuits in
1654. In 1690, the city received the name of
San Francisco de
Quibdó. In 1828, it was appointed capital of the department.
Quibdó has around 140,000 inhabitants.
Tourist destinations include fine centres of recreation, parks, the
House of Culture "Jorge Isaacs", the Cathedral of
Quibdó and some beaches. Other important places are the
Technological University of Chocó, San Francisco' s hospital, the
Red Cross and health centres, the Lions Club, craft centres and
factories.
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