Combarbalá
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Combarbala is a city in Chile , located in the Fourth or Coquimbo Region of Chile and is part of the Limarí Province. The city is bordered by the community of Monte Patria to the north; Illapel and Canela to the south; and the community of Punitaqui to the west.
Combarbala is located at the geographical coordinates of 31° 11´ South and 71° 02´ west. The city lies 904 meters above sea level and its surface area is 2257.5 square kilometers.
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[edit] Physical Geography
The city is lies between the Limarí River to the north; and the Choapa River to the south. In general terms, one is in the region of cross-sectional valleys, displaying a well-known mountainous relief.
Some important heights in the commune are:
- Pabellon Hill: 4700 meters above sea level.
- Chaguareche Hill: 2612 meters above sea level.
- Ramadilla Hill: with 1353 meters above sea level.
- Movilo Hill: 1230 meters above sea level.
[edit] Climate
Combarbala's climate is semi-arid, with an humidity that borders on 50%; high summer temperatures, great thermal oscillation and with a great transparency of skies.
In a normal year of precipitation, rainfall is about 200 mm, but in the region also appear strong droughts and great storms.
[edit] History
Inhabited by indigenous peoples, known as the Molles and Diaguitas since about 5000 years ago. They were on hand to receive the Spanish conquerors, in 16th century.
The zone began to fill with Spaniards and Mestizos in 17th century, to the point that in the following century was in the sector a little indigenous population that survived the gold mines under protection of and receives, in addition to the small agriculture and pasturing. The geographic isolation allowed that still by the end of 18th century survived a small group of entrusted Indians.
Catholic Bishop Mr. Manuel Alday visited the zone, because the Church was worried about the neglect of the population. A parish was based in 1757, creating this way the Church of Combarbala, which was the first step to found a city, which happened in November 30, 1789. The foundation was in charge of the Spanish Captain Mr. Juan Ignacio Flores, during the Mr. Ambrosio ÓHiggins's government.
The foundation its regularized according to decree, arising with the name of San Francisco de Borja de Combarbala Ville.
At the beginning of 18th century, copper, silver and gold minerals were discovered, which gave origin to the formation of the city, as it bases of an important mining establishment.
[edit] Flora
The natural vegetation is clearly associate with the climate of the zone. One prevails a flora of steppe, adapted to the dryness, predominating stocky shrubs, cacti, hawthornes, carob trees, peppers, etc.
It is only possible to observe green trees in the sectors of broken and rivers. Therefore the dryness is a predominant characteristic in the mountainous landscape of the city.
[edit] Hydrography
The city presents/displays numerous broken which "they lower" at time of winter, paying its waters to greater courses, which are the rivers Cogoti River, Combarbalá River and Pama River.
All of them feed into the Cogoti dam, located outside of the city. The dam has the capacity to store 150 million cubic meters of water. From there, it flows into the Guatulame River and from there the water arrives at the La Paloma dam in the city of Ovalle.
The water obstacle of the commune presents a mixed regime, being fed by rainwater and the melting of the snow, reason for which presents/displays two swellings in the year: One at winter time, and another one at summer time.
[edit] Economic Activities
Combarbala's people develop activities in agriculture, specially grape for export. The operation of the goat cattle, mining and crafts of the combarbalita stone are important productive activities.
[edit] Tourism
A varied panorama awaits visitors to Combarbala. it has a great variety of tourist attractions for such a small town.
Petroglifos
Combarbala has one of testimonies of the old civilizations that populated the Limari valley.
In Ramadilla, in the Pama Zone and other places, exist great amount and variety of petroglifos. They emphasize, specially in El Rincon de Las Chilcasarea, to the interior of Cogoti, where is located great number of vestiges lazy on rock by the natives during the pre-Columbian period.
Cogoti Dam
In 1940, the zone received a great engineering installation. A dam with capacity to store 150 million cubic meters of water, which created a new attractive element of tourism in the zone.
The Cogoti Dam, call product from which receives waters of the Cogoti river, next to those of the rivers Pama and Combarbala, is strides along of calm waters in which the visitor can swim relaxed and to even encamp on the feet of the hills that surround it. By the calm of its waters, and the pleasant breeze that blows in the place, is possible to make in the nautical sports like Windsurf or others.
The dam, located between Combarbala and La Ligua de Cogoti zone, take waters more than 30 km, extending them until the City of Ovalle and watering the sector of Los Llanos de Camarico and even some agricultural territories of Punitaqui.
Other touristic attractions
- Spas of "Los Pozos" and "La Coipa".
- Petrified forest, in El Algarrobal, to 03 km. of the city.
- Piedra del Fraile, in Pama, to 03 km. of the city.
- Adventure activities in Barrancas, Chineo and Fragüita, to 11 km. to the interior of the city.
- San Francisco de Borja de Combarbala Church, founded on 1754. Historical monument and attractive touristic in downtown.
[edit] Interesting tips of Combarbala
"El Clasico" ("The Classic", in English)
When the summer begins to take leave, Combarbala is prepared to live the great party on the summer: El Clasico.
In February, the Social and Sport Clubs "Los Loros" and "Union Juvenil" dispute the title of city champion. For weeks, the citizens is divided between "Loros" and "Juveniles", facing in entertainments sport and cultural activities that decide the triumph of only one. This, finally, it is decided after an exciting basketball game.
La isla and the religious fever
On the first Sunday in May, Catholics participate in the traditional religious celebration of the Virgin of the Stone, in La Isla ville, located 22 kilometers from Combarbala. This town receives to thousands of faithful who, demonstrate great devotion by paying their "mandas" (it means, pray to the virgin for miracles, those that soon are paid with personal acts), as well as to renew his requests to God.
[edit] Origin of name "Combarbala"
The explanations for the origin of the name "Combarbala" are many differents:
- The city receives this name, but according to the chronicles of Jerónimo de Vivar, companion of the conqueror Pedro de Valdivia, the original name would be "Cocambala", written as a Spanish listened, according to its orthographic norms. The "Cocambala" word, not necessarily can to be word, but that exists possibility that it is the union of several, like for example; "Ko"(water)," Kam"(far) and "Wala"(Aquatic bird) in Mapudungun language. So, Combarbala - or Kokamwala- would mean "far water, where there are birds".
- Other explanations say that the name of the city would come from the Quechua word "Cumparpayay", that means "to divide with hammer", "to fall down violently" or "to come fallen down". Nevertheless, studies have demonstrated that the Indians who lived in the zone did not speak the language of the Indians of the Limari Valley, but that Mapudungun native language.
- The third theory, based on legends, indicates that the city is called "Combarbala", because exists an alone Indian of the zone, called "La". The Indian, after long time, appear with a dense beard, which the cause that the population indicated to the place like that where was "Con-Barba-La" (with-beard-"La", in English).
