Diario las Américas., 1958-05-02
Know thv
NeighborI
BY ANTONIO RUIZ

OF Bolivar is located on the north
west part of the country, and the
Magdalena River flows along its
eastern part. 1t has a tropical
temperature and is flat and low,
the highest point being Villanueva,
l,476 feet above sea level. 1t is
the sixth in area among the de-
partments of the Republic, and
eighth in population, which is es-
timated in 5000. The area is
1885 square miles. The Depart
ment of Bolivar is represented
in the National Congress by 5 SEN
ators and IL representatives. The
Assembly of the Department has
% deputies. The excellent grass
lands of the region makes Bolivar
the first department in the coun-
try in cattle raising. Agriculture
also has achieved a high degree
OF development.
Cartagena, the capital, has a
population estimated in 200, 900
and is one of the most attractive
cities in the country for tourists,
since it has many historical monu-
rentS. Called the Heroic City by
the Liberator Simon Bolivar,
Cartagena was founded in 1888
by Pedro de Heredia, and was the
first city of its type in the Con-
tinent, famous for its walls and
forts built in the 18th. century at a
cost of SO million gold pesos. The
height OF the walls is about forty
i2c, and the width between fifty
and sixty feet. They are built of
stone, with a mixture of sand,
lime, and crushed snails. The old
part of the city is completely sur
rounded by these walls, which were
intended to defend it from the
raids of pirates, who used to at
tempt frequent attacks, since Car
tagena was, at that time, the prin-
cipal Spanish center Of the New
World.
The outstanding defensive fort
is "San Felipe de B~arajas", con-
sidered to be the most important
colonial fortification in America,
built between 1857 and 1852, at a
cost of eleven million gold pesos,
with underground passages con-
Meeting to the city. 1t is said that
when the cost of building the
walls and this fortress was reveal
ed to the King of Spain, he went
to the palace window, and placing
his hand as a shade over his eyes,
he said: Il want to see them. For
that money, l should be able to
see them from here" Other forts
are the "Bovedas de Bocachica,"
at the entrance of the bay, and
the San Fernando and San Jose
castles.
Old Cartagena was built for
strictly military and defensive pur-
poses, none of its streets is
straight and the city is in itself a
Spanish monument in America.
Most of the buildings date from
colonial times, and those deserv-
ing most attention are the Inquisi-
ton Palace, the Government Pa
lace, the Cathedral, the Convent
of Santa Cruz de la Popa, and the
Convent of San Pedro Clayer.
Cartagena was the city of the
Americas which suffered the great
est and the most frequent attacks
from pirates and buccaneers, all
of which it fought back with great
heroism. That is the reason why
the Eiberator gave it the name of
the Heroic City, Several islands,
which can be reached from the ci-
ty across narrow canals, give this
Colombian port an aspect OF great
beauty.
The principal manufacturing in
dustries in Cartagena are: foods,
beverages, shoes and clothing,
chemical products, tobacco, pro-
duets, printing and publications,
furniture humber. textiles, leather
goods, metal products, rubber
goods, paper and many others.
Other cities of some importance
in the Department of Bolivar are;
Momp6s, founded in 1897 with a
population of $1,000; Magangue,
founded in 1910, with a popula.
ton Of 46, 900; Corozal, with~a pop
ulation of $4,000 and S~incelejo,
with a population of $4,000.
Spanish Version Page 8