Boyacá

Boyaca is one of the 32 departments of Colombia. It is in the central northeastern part of the country, almost entirely within the mountains of the Eastern Cordillera to the border with Venezuela, although the western end of the department extends to the Magdalena River. Its capital is Tunja.
Boyaca is known as "The Land of Freedom" because in this region there were several battles that resulted in the independence of Colombia from Spain.
History
The territory of present-day Boyaca was inhabited, during the Pre-Columbian time, by Muisca indigenous peoples. They lived mainly by agriculture and mining gold and emeralds.
The first European to discover the area was the Spaniard Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada. In 1539, Gonzalo Suarez Rendon, a Spanish colonist, founded the city of Tunja and other places. Tunja became one of the main political and economic centers for the Spanish during the "Viceroyalty of New Granada".
During the 19th century Boyaca was battleground of several important battles during the war of Independence; two of the most important were the "Battle of the Pantano de Vargas" (Vargas Swamp Battle) on 25 July 1819, and the "Battle of Boyaca" on 7 August 1819.
Geography
The Boyaca department is in the Andean region over the mountains of the Eastern Cordillera (the eastern section of the Andes in Colombia). It borders 8 departments: Santander and Norte de Santander to the north, Arauca and Casanare to the east, Cundinamarca and Meta to the south, and Caldas and Antioquia to the west. It also borders with Venezuela.
Boyaca has an area of , most of it on a plateau. Its highest point is Ritacuba Blanco () in the Eastern Cordillera; it is high.
Many rivers start in this area; the most important are the Chicamocha and Arauca rivers, tributaries to other important rivers such as the Magdalena and Meta rivers.
Boyaca also has numerous lakes; the largest, and the largest in Colombia, is the Lake Tota with an area of .
Climate
The area around Tunja, at an altitude of about , is characterized by climates with few extremes of temperature and ample precipitation in all months. The Koppen climate classification type for the climate at Tunja is a "Marine West Coast Climate" and of the subtype "Cfb".
The average amount of precipitation for the year in Tunja is . The month with the most precipitation on average is October with of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is January with an average of . There is an average of 179.0 days of precipitation, with the most precipitation occurring in May with 19.0 days and the least precipitation occurring in January with 6.0 days.
The average temperature for the year in Tunja is . The warmest month, on average, is March with an average temperature of . The coolest month on average is July, with an average temperature of .
Provinces and Municipalities
There are 13 provinces and two special districts in the Boyaca Department, listed below with their 123 municipalities. The provincial capitals are in bold.
Centro
Combita
Cucaita
Chiquiza
Chivata
Motavita
Oicata
Siachoque
Samaca
Sora
Soraca
Sotaquira
Toca
Tunja
Tuta
Ventaquemada
Gutierrez
Chiscas
El Cocuy
El Espino
Guacamayas
Guican
Panqueba
La Libertad
Labranzagrande
Pajarito
Paya
Pisba
Lengupa
Berbeo
Campohermoso
Miraflores
Paez
San Eduardo
Zetaquira
Occidente
Briceno
Buenavista
Caldas
Chiquinquira
Coper
La Victoria
Maripi
Muzo
Otanche
Pauna
Quipama
Saboya
San Miguel de Sema
San Pablo de Borbur
Tunungua
Marquez
Boyaca
Cienaga
Jenesano
Nuevo Colon
Ramiriqui
Rondon
Tibana
Turmeque
Umbita
Viracacha
Neira
Chinavita
Garagoa
Macanal
Pachavita
San Luis de Gaceno
Santa Maria
Norte
Boavita
Covarachia
La Uvita
San Mateo
Sativanorte
Sativasur
Soata
Susacon
Tipacoque
Oriente
Almeida
Chivor
Guateque
Guayata
La Capilla
Somondoco
Sutatenza
Tenza
Ricaurte
Arcabuco
Chitaraque
Gachantiva
Moniquira
Raquira
Sachica
San Jose de Pare
Santa Sofia
Santana
Sutamarchan
Tinjaca
Togui
Villa de Leyva
Sugamuxi
Aquitania
Cuitiva
Firavitoba
Gameza
Iza
Mongua
Mongui
Nobsa
Pesca
Sogamoso
Tibasosa
Topaga
Tota
Tundama
Belen
Busbanza
Cerinza
Corrales
Duitama
Floresta
Paipa
Santa Rosa de Viterbo
Tutasa, Boyaca
Valderrama
Beteitiva
Chita
Jerico
Paz de Rio
Socota
Socha
Tasco
Distrito Fronterizo
Cubara
Special Handling Zone
Puerto Boyaca
Demographics
The inhabitants of the Boyaca department are known, in Spanish, as Boyacense.
Boyaca had a population, in 2005, of 1,255,311, for a population density of inhabitants/km2.
Population history in Boyaca
The 10 municipalities with more inhabitants in the Boyaca department are:
Economy
Farming is an important activity; some crops grown here are sugarcane, coffee and cacao. Cattle raising is also important.
Mining is also an important activity, mainly of emerald and coal.
Places of interest
Some places of interest in the department are:
Monument to the Lancers () a memorial for Vargas Swamp Battle. It is the largest monument in Colombia.
Villa de Leyva is a touristic colonial town and municipality. The town is at west of the departmental capital Tunja.
Battleground of the Battle of Boyaca, to the south of Tunja.
Puente de Boyaca (in English: The Bridge of Boyaca) is a small bridge at to the west of Tunja. It commemorates the historic battle of 7 August 1819 known as the Battle of Boyaca.
Lake Tota, the largest lake of fresh water of the country.
Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Chiquinquira. Our Lady of the Rosary is the patron saint of Colombia.
Gallery
References
Departments of Colombia
1858 establishments
1850s establishments in South America
19th-century establishments in Colombia