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67-646: Various indigenous tribes have populated the arid plains of the region long before the Spanish expeditions reached the Americas. In 1498, Alonso de Ojeda sailed around the peninsula of La Guajira, but the first European to set foot in what is known today as La Guajira was the Spanish explorer Juan de la Cosa in 1499. During the colonial era, the territory of La Guajira was disputed by the governors of Santa Marta and Venezuela, owing to deposits of pearls. English pirates, Frenchmen, and Germans also fought for control of

134-518: A Páramo ecosystem, and gives birth to some 13 rivers of Colombia. The Santuario de Flora y Fauna los Flamencos ( Flamingos Fauna and Flora Sanctuary ) is located on the coastline of the municipality of Riohacha, between the village of Camarones and the Tapias River , and covers 7,000 hectares (17,000 acres) The sanctuary has four lagoons (Manzanillo, Navío Quebrado, Tocoromanes, and Laguna Grande) and numerous streams which serve as habitat for

201-601: A 3,730 m (12,240 ft) peak in Antioquia Department . This implies a theoretical direct line of sight of just over 500 km (310 mi), reported to be the longest between any two points on the surface of the Earth. It is calculated that the yearly average rainfall is 4,000 mm (157.5 in) at elevations of 500 to 1,500 m (1,640 to 4,921 ft). The temperature varies between 0 and 27 °C (32 and 81 °F). The tropical rainforest

268-626: A barrier to humid trade winds , which blow from the northeast. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range is located on the Caribbean Sea and is shared with the departments of Magdalena and Cesar . Most of the hydrographic reserves in the Department of La Guajira originate in this mountain range, including the Ranchería River which flows through most of the department from south to north. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

335-577: A battle between them being fought at La Soledad. That and the arrival of the Spanish reinforcements quelled the rebellion, but not before the Guajiro had regained much territory. In 1846, the new government of the Republic of New Granada created the "Guajiro territory", from part of the State of Magdalena, but the indigenous traded in contraband on a large scale, problems with the authorities continued, and

402-602: A high altitude belt of montane grasslands and shrublands interspersed with marshes and acid bogs, occupies the zone between 3,300 and 5,000 m (10,827 and 16,404 ft). The Santa Marta Páramo is the northernmost enclave of Páramo in South America, which occur along the Andes belt. Above 5,000 m (16,404 ft) lies the permanent snow cap. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park ( Spanish : Parque Nacional Natural Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta )

469-583: A lizard; Atractus sanctaemartae , a snake; and Lepidoblepharis sanctaemartae , a lizard. The range is home to about 20 endemic bird species. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is home to the remnants of the Native American Tairona Culture ; Arhuacos , Koguis , Wiwas and Kankuamos , that live in Resguardos Indigenas (indigenous reserves) located in the mid-highlands. For the last ten years, access to

536-549: Is Cabo de la Vela , a small fishing village located on the headland of the peninsula in the Guajira desert . The name Guajira comes from the Cariban languages ; it is the Spanish pronunciation of Wajiira or Wahiira. According to Picon, the word Guajiros was first used in the year 1600 to designate some 200 indigenous families inhabiting the region of Riohacha. They were known for having large herds of goats. The Spanish applied

603-602: Is Colombia 's second oldest national park , established in 1964. It is located in the Cordillera Oriental range , between the departments of La Guajira , Magdalena and Cesar , in the mountain range of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. It is a sanctuary as well as a tourist attraction, because it offers different climate, terrain, flora and fauna environments, ranging from beaches to snowy mountain peaks. Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park

670-507: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (English: Snow-Covered Mountain Range of Saint Martha ) is an isolated mountain range in northern Colombia , separate from the Andes range that runs through the north of the country. Reaching an elevation of 5,700 m (18,700 ft) just 42 km (26 mi) from

737-502: Is a compact group, relatively small in area, and completely surrounded by lands with elevations below 200 m (660 ft). Although it is associated with the Tropical Andes , the main backbone of the Andes cannot be reached from the Sierra Nevada without dropping below this level. This makes its highest point the world's fifth most prominent summit. Several peaks in the Sierra Nevada are intervisible with Cerro Paramillo ,

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804-489: Is a transitional forest zone of smaller trees and palms. Cloud forests occur above 1,000 m (3,281 ft); the Sub-Andean forests from 1,000 to 2,500 m (3,281 to 8,202 ft) form a canopy 25 to 35 m (82 to 115 ft) tall, while the higher-elevation Andean forests, between 2,500 and 3,300 m (8,202 and 10,827 ft), grow to 15 to 20 m (49 to 66 ft) in height. The Santa Marta Páramo ,

871-421: Is also composed of 126 corregimientos (local magistracies), 49 inspecciones de policía (police districts) and 10 caseríos (villages), distributed throughout the municipalities. The Colombian National Police have a regional command post in the Department of La Guajira, usually under the command of a colonel and based in the capital of the department, Riohacha. The Colombian National Army has two units in

938-629: Is also home to the remnants of the Tairona Culture . In 1979, the park was designated a Biosphere reserve by UNESCO . A 2013 report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature on the world's most irreplaceable protected areas identified the park as the most irreplaceable park in the world for threatened species. It is composed of Cretaceous metamorphic rocks (predominantly schists and gneisses ) and quartzdioritic intrusives of Tertiary age. The Quaternary of

1005-461: Is considered a unique place in the world, due to its isolation from the Andes, and its highest peak (5,700 metres (18,701 ft) above sea level) is located just 42 kilometres (26 mi) away from the sea. All the water courses that originate in the national park drain to the Caribbean sea whether directly (e. g. rivers Ranchería, Don Diego, Palomino, Buritaca, Guachaca, Cañas, etc.) or through

1072-435: Is home to a number of ecoregions , which vary with elevation. The Guajira–Barranquilla xeric scrub region lies near the Caribbean seacoast to the north of the range. The Sinú Valley dry forests cover the range's lower slopes, up to an elevation of 500 m (1,640 ft). The Santa Marta montane forests lie above 500 to 800 m (1,640 to 2,625 ft). The montane forests are separated from other moist forests by

1139-428: Is made up of perennial trees, with a canopy reaching between 30 and 40 m (98 and 131 ft). There is a great variety and large populations of epiphytes and lianas , and more than 3,000 species of vascular plants are found in the area. The indigenous peoples made an alcoholic beverage from fruits of the palm Attalea maripa found at the lower elevations. Of Colombia's 340 endemic species, 44 are found in

1206-679: Is mostly flat, with hills in some areas, presenting also an arid environment. The Southern Guajira covers the region of the Montes de Oca and the Serranía del Perijá mountain ranges on the border with Venezuela, and the valley formed with the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range. Southern Guajira has more green vegetation, wetlands and rivers. The Department of La Guajira is within the Colombian Caribbean region , one of

1273-512: The Costumbrismo , including physiology and sexuality. Wayuu tribes feature prominently in Papillon by Henri Charrière , which is about an escaped convict who takes refuge with one such tribe. La Guajira has been the subject of numerous writings describing its culture. Music in the Department of La Guajira has been associated with the indigenous peoples, as well as being influenced by

1340-606: The Calancala River , was built in 1910, and the Nazareth Orphanage, in the Serranía de Macuira mountains, in 1913. The orphanages had influence over the rancherías of Guarrachal, El Pájaro, Carazúa, Guaraguao, Murumana, Garra Patamana, and Karraipía. The Nazareth Orphanage had some control over the rancherías of Taroa, Maguaipa, Guaseipá, and Alpanapause. The friars frequently visited the settlements, inviting

1407-588: The Caribbean Region of Colombia (8,910,195). The Department of La Guajira had a population density of 29.9 inhabitants per square kilometer. From those 623,250 total inhabitants, 50.6% were females and 49.4% were males. The University of La Guajira has its main campus at Riohacha, with satellite campuses at Fonseca, Maicao, Manaure, Albania, and Villanueva. The institution offers technical as well as undergraduate and graduate programs in natural sciences, engineering, economics, education, administration, and

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1474-539: The Magdalena River system that includes the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta , (e.g. rivers Cesar , Ariguaní, Fundación, Frío, Aracataca, etc.). Roughly 1.2 million people are dependent upon the freshwater supplied by the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta rivers. There are currently about 30,000 indigenous people of the ethnic groups Koguis , Arhuacos , Kankuamos and Wiwa living in the area. This park

1541-585: The Wayuu (Guajiros, Macuiros, Anates, Caquetios, Wayunaiki, Cuanaos, Onotos and Eneales) and Cocina people, and, in the south, to the Kogui , Arhuaco , Guanebucan , and Chimila ethnic groups, among others. Archaeological digs have uncovered the sites of fishing communities that used pottery on the central eastern side of the Guajira Peninsula , dating to the 10th century BC. These groups coexisted on

1608-434: The embayments front alluvial valley deposits. The bay shores are typically steep, reflective beaches composed of very coarse sand to granules eroded from adjacent cliffs and alluvial deposits. Wide pocket beaches and tombolos are common along sectors with abundant rocky erosional remnants and stacks . Three species of reptiles which are native to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta are named after it: Anolis santamartae ,

1675-482: The flamingos and numerous other endemic species. Located in the village of Musichi , the Flamingos Protection Area is within the municipality of Manaure and contains numerous lagoons that are used by locals for the artisanal making of salt. During the pre-Columbian era, present-day La Guajira was inhabited predominantly by indigenous tribes belonging, in the dry northern lowlands, mostly to

1742-603: The legislative branch by the Department Assembly of La Guajira ; and the judicial branch by the regional courts under the Superior Tribunal of Riohacha whose members are appointed by the Supreme Court of Colombia . Control institutions also have their regional representatives. These institutions have control over the 15 municipalities which are governed locally by a mayor, a town council and by

1809-415: The taliraai (tubular flute), wootoroyoi (type of clarinet), among others. The Majayura , or ritual of the "young wayuu virgin", in which a female dances towards a male considered a prospective mate, while other males perform rhythms with their traditional instruments, until the one male tumbles to the ground. Arid Aridity is the condition of a region that severely lacks available water, to

1876-578: The Caribbean Sea. The Wayuu have contributed their own traditional music and instruments. Their culture associates economy and social life with music, such as in the case of raising cattle, where the indigenous sang to their animals. They also used music for meetings and celebrations, as well as mourning, at funerals. The Yonna is the traditional dance of the Wayuu and is performed to honor guests. The Wayuus created many rustic musical instruments, such as Kashi , Sawawa (a type of flute), ma'asi , totoy , and

1943-615: The Caribbean coast, the Sierra Nevada is the highest coastal range in the tropics, and one of the highest coastal ranges in the world, being 250 metres (820 ft) shorter than the Saint Elias Mountains in Canada. The Sierra Nevada encompasses about 17,000 km (6,600 sq mi) and serves as the source of 36 rivers. The range is in the Departments of Magdalena , Cesar and La Guajira . The highest point of

2010-498: The Department of La Guajira have been mostly influenced by the traditions of the Wayuu ; by European culture, mainly through Roman Catholic traditions; by Afro-Colombian culture; and since the mid-20th Century, by Middle Eastern culture, including Islamic traditions. There is also considerable influence from Venezuela, as the traditional Wayuu territory is shared by the two nations. There are three main languages in La Guajira,

2077-605: The Department of Magdalena, and La Guajira became a national territory in its own right. The Intendance of La Guajira was created in 1898. In 1911, the Colombian government created the Commissary of la Guajira. In the 1930s, numerous immigrants came to the area from the Middle East ( Christian Arabs , Maronites in particular, and Shi'i Muslims ) from Lebanon , Syria , Palestine and Jordan. They generally settled in

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2144-500: The Guajira Peninsula. The northern indigenous peoples were nomads traveling the peninsula, hunting, fishing, and collecting fruit. The indigenous groups in the south were semi-sedentary, practicing agriculture and exploiting coastal resources. In 1498, the Guajira Peninsula was first seen by Spanish explorers led by Alonso de Ojeda , who sailed the coast, but didn't land. In 1502, a Spanish expedition led by Juan de la Cosa

2211-440: The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is mainly represented by colluvial - alluvial valley fill and by recent beach deposits. The coastlines of the northwestern part of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta are indented, reflecting the alternation of rocky headlands and deep, north-northwest trending tectonically controlled bays. The headlands are typically 100-to-150 m (330-to-490 ft) cliffs cut into schists and granites , whereas

2278-434: The Sierra Nevada group (and Colombia in general) may be either Pico Cristóbal Colón or Pico Simón Bolívar , both in the municipalities of Santa Marta and Aracataca ; it has yet to be determined which is higher. SRTM data and local topographic maps show that their true elevations are approximately 5,700 m (18,700 ft), lower than the 5,775 m (18,947 ft) elevation that is often quoted. The Sierra Nevada

2345-479: The Wayuu language. There is also a small yet significant number of English speakers living in the Cerrejón miner's citadel, owing to the bilingual school there. Literature in La Guajira has been both written in Spanish and Wayuunaiki, most of it describing the myths, the sacred, the tragic, the epics, the legends, heroism, the magic, the comedy, and romanticism autochthonous to the region and directly influenced by

2412-505: The Wayuu, "barbarians, horse thieves, worthy of death, without God, without law and without a king". Of all the Indians in the territory of Colombia, they were unique in having learned the use of firearms and horses. In 1769, the Spanish took 22 Wayuu captive, in order to put them to work building the fortifications of Cartagena. The reaction of their fellow Indians was unexpected. On May 2, 1769, at El Rincón, near Río de la Hacha , they set

2479-472: The authorities, more than 100 Spaniards were killed and many others taken prisoner. Many cattle were also taken by the rebels. The Spaniards who could took refuge in Río de la Hacha and sent urgent messages to Maracaibo , Valle de Upar, Santa Marta, and Cartagena. Cartagena sent 100 troops. The rebels themselves were not unified. Sierra's relatives among the Indians took up arms against the rebels to avenge his death,

2546-459: The city of Maicao . In 1954, the Intendance of la Guajira was created again and Riohacha was declared a municipality. Finally, in 1964, the Department of La Guajira was created. The economy of the department depends on royalties from the coal mining at Cerrejón (producing 24.9 million tons of export coal in 2004), natural gas exploitation, and salt mines. A popular ecotourist destination

2613-501: The complete conquest of the region, and the conflict between colonizers and indigenous prevailed throughout the 19th century. The Wayuu were never subjugated by the Spanish, and the two groups were in a more or less permanent state of war. There were rebellions in 1701 (when the Wayuu destroyed a Capuchin mission), 1727 (when more than 2,000 Indians attacked the Spanish), 1741, 1757, 1761, and 1768. In 1718, Governor Soto de Herrera called

2680-455: The conservatives after recognizing a parental affiliation with General Iguarán, one of the conservative commanders. The Department of La Guajira is governed by regional equivalents of the three branches of the national government of Colombia. The executive branch is represented by the Governor of the Department of La Guajira , elected every four years by popular vote in regional elections ;

2747-423: The cultures of Afro-Colombians and Europeans. Such is the case of vallenato music, which allegedly originated in the region between Riohacha and Valledupar, with some considering larger area reaching from Riohacha to the central region of the Department of Cesar. The accordions and guitars first used for vallenato music were allegedly acquired in La Guajira as contraband arriving from the nearby island of Aruba , in

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2814-440: The curate, which they then set afire. Sierra and eight of his men were killed. This success was soon known in other Guajiro areas, and more men joined the revolt. According to Messía, at its peak there were 20,000 Indians under arms. Many had firearms acquired from English and Dutch smugglers, sometimes even from the Spanish. These enabled the rebels to capture nearly all the settlements of the region, which they burned. According to

2881-762: The department, both of which are part of the 1st Division : the 2nd Mechanized Cavalry Battalion (based in Distracción ) and the 6th Mechanized Battalion (Based in Riohacha). The Colombian Air Force division Comando Aéreo de Combate No. 3 (CACOM-3), in Barranquilla , Atlántico, serves the Department of La Guajira, using as its airstrip the Almirante Padilla Airport . According to the DANE (Colombian statistics bureau) 2005 Census, 44.9% of

2948-400: The extent of hindering or preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life. Regions with arid climates tend to lack vegetation and are called xeric or desertic . Most arid climates are located in the subtropics ; these regions include parts of Africa , Asia , South America , North America , and Australia . The distribution of aridity at any time is largely the result of

3015-672: The five natural regions of Colombia. The Serranía de Macuira mountain range is located to the northwest of the Guajira Peninsula occupying an area of 35,000 hectares (86,000 acres), 25,000 ha (62,000 acres) of which are contained within the Macuira National Park. The mountain range is an isolated ecosystem in the middle of the La Guajira Desert , near the Caribbean Sea , between the villages of Nazareth, Ichipa and Tawara. The mountain range works as

3082-529: The general circulation of the atmosphere . The latter does change significantly over time through climate change . For example, temperature increase by 1.5–2.1 percent across the Nile Basin over the next 30–40 years could change the region from semi-arid to arid, significantly reducing the land usable for agriculture . In addition, changes in land use can increase demands on soil water and thereby increase aridity. This climatology -related article

3149-460: The highest summits has been very difficult, and this situation continues, [1] although there is a documented ascent of Pico Cristóbal Colón in December 2015. This was due to opposition from locals in the southern side of the mountain to aid and allow climbers to explore the place. Their aid and permission is important for success in the summit. Armed turmoil has also proven to hinder access to

3216-578: The humanities. The economy of the Department of La Guajira is based on the exploitation of mineral resources, such as coal in the Cerrejón mines, natural gas, salt mines in Manaure , and constituted 53.48% of total revenues in 2005. The service industry follows, including electricity, gas, potable water, transport and communications, accounting for 11.06% of the total revenue. Education, health, community service and domestic services account for 9.60% of

3283-523: The indigenous, and from Spanish from the neighboring Captaincy of Venezuela who were after the large deposits of pearls, the village was moved to present-day Riohacha and refounded by Nikolaus Federmann . Between 1609 and 1640, the Spanish colonizers imported some 800 or more African slaves. Most of these later escaped and formed palenques. In 1679, the Government of Santa Marta offered these palenques their freedom in exchange for their helping to protect

3350-472: The lower-elevation dry forests and xeric shrublands, and have large numbers of endemic species. The montane forest ecoregion has several distinct plant communities, distinguished by altitude and rainfall; moist lowland forests cover the windward northern and western flanks of the range between 500 and 900 m (1,640 and 2,953 ft), and the drier eastern and southern flanks from 1,000 to 5,800 m (3,281 to 19,029 ft). Above 900 m (2,953 ft)

3417-764: The most widespread is the Spanish language , followed by the Wayuu language . The growing population of Middle Eastern immigrants has contributed the use of the Arabic language to the region. Koguis and Wiwas are more associated with the Chibchan languages , having their own dialect. Spanish in La Guajira has also developed its own dialect mostly by taking words from the Wayuu language. The Wayuus and other indigenous groups are being given bilingual education in both their native language and Spanish. Numerous software companies such as Microsoft and Ubuntu have developed products in

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3484-450: The park, for example seven species of endemic hummingbirds. Of the 3,057 endangered species, 44 are found here. The area is home to 440 species of birds, including black-fronted wood-quail , king vulture , Andean condor , Santa Marta warbler and Santa Marta parakeet . Mammals found in the park include: tapir , cougar , jaguar , squirrel , Transandinomys talamancae , otter , and brocket deer . The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta

3551-729: The people to attend mass. Wayuu children in the orphanages were educated in traditional European customs. Conflicts between the Wayuu people and the Colombian government have decreased since then. In 1942, Uribia celebrated Christmas and New Year's Eve for the first time . During the Thousand Days' War (1899–1902) the region was affected by the struggle between liberals and conservatives . The indigenous in La Guajira sided with members of either side depending on parental affiliation or economic advantage rather than on political views. A cacique named José Dolores came to an agreement with Liberal radical Rafael Uribe Uribe , but later sided with

3618-464: The population of the Department of La Guajira was indigenous , mostly belonging to the Arhuaco , Koguis , Wiwa , and Wayuu tribes. 7.5% was of Afro-Colombian descent; while the remaining 47.6% of the population did not consider itself part of a particular ethnic group, except for Middle Eastern descendants, who have migrated here throughout the 20th century. The department's indigenous population

3685-602: The regional courts and control institutions. The Department of La Guajira is formed into 15 municipalities, each administered by a popularly elected mayor and a city council, as well as municipal-level courts. 12 of the municipalities are part of a government program called "Special Units for Frontier and Department Frontier Zone": San Juan del Cesar, La Jagua del Pilar, Barrancas, El Molino, Fonseca, Hatonuevo, Maicao, Uribia, Urumita, Villanueva, Manaure, and Riohacha. The municipalities of Dibulla, Albania, and Distracción are excluded from that classification. The Department of La Guajira

3752-705: The return of the Capuchin friars under reverend friar José María de Valdeviejas. In 1905, Pope Pius X created the Vicariate of La Guajira and, as the first vicar, Friar Atanasio Vicente Soler y Royo attempted to "civilize" the Wayuu people. In 1903, the Capuchin Friars began building orphanages for Wayuu children, beginning with the La Sierrita Orphanage built in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains. The San Antonio Orphanage, located by

3819-581: The south. The Sinú Valley dry forests lie in between. In the far south are the headwaters of the Cesar River , which flow south towards the Magdalena River . The Ranchería River , which also rises in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, crosses the Guajira Peninsula from south to north and flows through the Valley of Upar and into the Caribbean Sea . The Serranía del Perijá and the Montes de Oca lie in

3886-431: The southeastern part of the department, bordering Venezuela. The department was divided into three subregions based on geographical characteristics: Upper, Middle, and Southern Guajira. The Upper Guajira covers the northernmost part of the peninsula, with mostly scarce semi- desertic vegetation. It has only an isolated, low-altitude mountain range, the Serranía de Macuira (865 m above sea level). The Middle Guajira region

3953-528: The term to all the indigenous in the peninsula who were goat herders. According to Oliver, the term Guajiro did not appear on Spanish records until the year 1626, in a document by a friar named Pedro Simón. The northern part of the department consists of arid plains called the Guajira-Barranquilla xeric scrub , whose dryness is caused by the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta . These mountains rise to 5,775 metres (18,947 ft) in

4020-463: The territory from English pirates and the government of Venezuela who coveted the Guajira Peninsula because of its pearls . La Guajira was one of the territories in Colombia that endured a period of isolation during the Spanish colonization of the Americas , due to the resistance of the indigenous peoples, predominantly the Wayuu. It was not until the 18th century that the Spanish monarchy ordered

4087-437: The territory was once again put under the government of Santa Marta. In 1871, once again the territory of La Guajira was put under separate administration and became a national territory. La Guajira became an intendencia in 1898 and a commissary in 1911. In 1954, it was demoted back to intendencia , until 1964, when the Department of La Guajira was created. The process of evangelizing the Wayuu people restarted in 1887 with

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4154-458: The territory. Martin Fernandez de Enciso founded Nuestra Señora Santa María de los Remedios del Cabo de la Vela , the first colonial village in the territory. In 1535, Nicolás de Federmán refounded the settlement as the village of Riohacha, as a result of constant attacks by the Wayuu people . In 1544, it was moved to the site of the present-day city. In 1871, the region was separated from

4221-570: The total. Agriculture, silviculture , and fishing account for 7.99% of the total, followed by commerce, hotel and restaurant industries which together account for 6.65% of the total revenues. Public administration accounts for 5.47%, construction 3.01%, real estate 2.21%, and industrial 0.52%. The Department of La Guajira in 2005 produced mainly tobacco , coffee , yuca , plantain , coconuts , ñame , arracacha , oil palm , and sugar cane . 1,211 plantations were transitory while 59,830 plantations were in permanent production. Cultural aspects in

4288-411: The village afire, burning the church and two Spaniards who had taken refuge in it, and capturing the priest. The Spanish immediately dispatched an expedition from El Rincón to capture the Indians. At the head of this force was José Antonio de Sierra, a mestizo who had also headed the party that had taken the 22 Guajiro captives. The Guajiros recognized him and forced his party to take refuge in the house of

4355-428: Was declared by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. The Cerro Pintao ("Painted Hill")—on the slopes of which sit the municipalities of San Juan del Cesar, El Molino, Villanueva, and Urumita and, in the Department of Cesar, the municipalities of Manaure , La Paz , San Diego , and Codazzi —covers an area of 25,000 hectares (62,000 acres), with altitudes ranging from 1,600 to 3,688 metres (5,249 to 12,100 ft), forming

4422-449: Was the first to disembark at Cabo de la Vela . In 1524, Rodrigo de Bastidas created the government of Santa Marta which encompassed an area from Cabo de la Vela to the mouth of the Magdalena River . In 1535, Martín Fernández de Enciso founded the first settlement in La Guajira, a village, near present-day Cabo de la Vela , called Nuestra Señora Santa María de los Remedios del Cabo de la Vela . In 1544, due to constant attacks from

4489-452: Was the largest of any Colombian department (followed by the departments of Cauca and Narino with 18% and 11.2% respectively) and was 20.2% of the national total of indigenous people. The municipalities with the largest indigenous populations were those where the Wayuu people had settled: Uribia (95.9%), Manaure (88.2%), and Maicao (40.1%). The population of 623,250 constituted 1.5% of the total population of Colombia (42,090,502) and 7% of

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