Aratoca

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Aratoca
Coordinates: 6 ° 42 ′  N , 73 ° 1 ′  W
Map: Colombia
marker
Aratoca​
Aratoca on the map of Colombia
Colombia - Santander - Aratoca.svg
Location of the municipality of Aratoca on the map of Santander
Basic data
Country Colombia
Department Santander
City foundation 1750
Residents 8269  (2019)
City insignia
Flag of Aratoca (Santander) .svg
Escudo de Aratoca (Santander) .svg
Detailed data
surface 163 km 2
Population density 51 people / km 2
height 1800  m
Waters Chicamocha River
Time zone UTC -5
City Presidency Pedro Julio Corredor Cáceres (2016-2019)
Website www.aratoca-santander.gov.co
Iglesia Nuestra Señora de las Nieves in Aratoca
Iglesia Nuestra Señora de las Nieves in Aratoca

Aratoca is a municipality (municipio) in the department of Santander in Colombia . The National Park Parque Nacional del Chicamocha is located on the territory of the municipality .

geography

The municipality of Aratoca is located in the province of Guanentá in eastern Santander in the Colombian Andes at an altitude of about 1800 meters and has an average annual temperature of 19 ° C. Aratoca is 71 kilometers from Bucaramanga . The Río Chicamocha forms a large part of the municipal boundary in the north and east . The municipality is bordered by Piedecuesta and Los Santos in the north, Cepitá in the east, Curití in the south and Los Santos and Jordán in the west .

population

The municipality of Aratoca has 8,269 inhabitants, of which 2,472 live in the urban part (cabecera municipal) of the municipality (as of 2019).

history

In the area of today Aratoca lived before the arrival of the Spaniards indigenous people of the Guanes . The place Aratoca was founded in 1750. The original name was Villa de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves y Santiago el Mayor de Aratoca . The word aratoca is likely of indigenous origin.

economy

The main industry in Aratoca is agriculture . Mainly coffee , beans , cassava , bananas , corn and natural fibers are grown. There is also cattle production and processing of natural fibers. The region's tourist potential has not yet been fully exploited . The Parque Nacional del Chicamocha (Panachi) is in Aratoca. However, the necessary infrastructure is still lacking for many other tourist destinations within the municipality.

Attractions

Entrance to the Panachi

The main natural attraction of Aratoca is the Cañón del Chicamocha , one of the deepest canyons in Latin America, with the Parque Nacional del Chicamocha . Various viewpoints offer the opportunity to overlook the landscape. Also known are lagoons such as the Pozo el Tambor and the rock formation Puente del Indio . In addition to the natural sights, there are places of religious importance, especially the pilgrimage cities of El Picacho and the La Gruta monument . The Aratocas Church, the Iglesia Nuestra Señora de las Nieves , is also of historical importance due to its special stone facade.

Web links

Commons : Aratoca  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Nuestro municipio. Alcaldía del Municipio de Aratoca - Santander, accessed April 16, 2019 (Spanish, information about the municipality).
  2. ↑ ESTIMACIONES DE POBLACIÓN 1985 - 2005 Y PROYECCIONES DE POBLACIÓN 2005 - 2020 TOTAL DEPARTAMENTAL POR ÁREA. (Excel; 1.72 MB) DANE, May 11, 2011, accessed on April 16, 2019 (Spanish, extrapolation of the population of Colombia).
  3. ^ Turismo. Alcaldía del Municipio de Aratoca - Santander, accessed April 16, 2019 (Spanish, information on tourism in the municipality).