| Santa Marta | |||
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| — City — | |||
| El Rodadero Beach | |||
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| Nickname(s): America's Pearl (La Perla de America) | |||
| Location in the Department of Magdalena. Municipality (dark gray) City (red) |
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Santa Marta
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Colombia | ||
| Region | Caribbean Region | ||
| Department | Magdalena | ||
| Foundation | July 29, 1525 | ||
| Founder | Rodrigo de Bastidas | ||
| Named for | Martha | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Juan Pablo Diazgranados Pinedo (Liberal) | ||
| Area | |||
| • City | 2,393.35 km2 (924.07 sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 55.10 km2 (21.27 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 6 m (20 ft) | ||
| Highest elevationAt Pico Cristóbal Colón | 5,775 m (18,947 ft) | ||
| Population (2005)[1] | |||
| • City | 415,270 | ||
| • Density | 173.5/km2 (449.4/sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 385,122 | ||
| • Urban density | 6,989.5/km2 (18,106.3/sq mi) | ||
| DANE | |||
| Time zone | Colombia Standard Time (UTC-05) | ||
| Twin cities | |||
| • Miami Beach | United States | ||
| Website | santamarta-magdalena.gov.co | ||
Santa Marta is the capital city of the Colombian department of Magdalena in the Caribbean Region. It was founded in July 29, 1525 by the Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, which makes it the oldest remaining city in Colombia (Santa María la Antigua del Darién was founded earlier, but abandoned soon after). Located between the Santa Marta Mountains and the Caribbean Sea, the city is a popular tourist destination due to its history, colonial architecture, beaches and nearby nature reserves.
Simón Bolívar died at an estate named Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino on the outskirts of Santa Marta on December 17, 1830. The city has been affected to some extent by the Colombian Armed Conflict.
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Prior to the Arrival of Spanish explorers, the area where Santa Marta lies was inhabited by Amerindians from the Tairona culture, and its subsequent families: Arhuacos and Koguis, among others.
The city was founded on July 29, 1525 by Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, accompanied by some two hundred of his men and a few Amerindians. He named the city after the Catholic day for Saint Martha, which in Spain was celebrated with festivities. However, many historians argue that he named it after the Spanish city of Santa Marta de Astorgas, which he had visited.[2] With its foundation, the Spanish colonization also started the conquering of lands from this region, and the set up of administrative functions for the colony, including a maritime port and the construction of defenses to prevent pirate raids.
During the Colonial times the city started losing its importance as maritime port to nearby city port of Cartagena.
During the mid-19th century, French, English and North American immigrants along with some locals started to introduce industrial ways of productions and founded trade associations among industrials and the farmers. As a result they built railways which would connect productive networks.
In 1871, the University of Magdalena was founded, initially with two faculties: law and medicine.
During the 20th century the city served as a main port for massive exports of bananas and coal, produced inland with the assistance of major multinational corporations.
In 1968 the government decentralized the Port Authority, leaving Santa Marta with its own Port Authority (Capitania de Puerto).[3]
In recent years, Santa Marta has attracted large numbers of people displaced by the paramilitary groups operating in the area. The warm climate and the possibility of occasional work serving the tourist industry has increased the city's population drastically.
Temperatures in the city of Santa Marta ranges from 27 to 35 degrees Celsius at sea level, but the Municipality of Santa Marta stretches up to the highest snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and each 100 meter of higher altitude means 1 Celsius lower temperature. Rainfall in this region varies from 12 to 975 mm per month.
Tourism has its peak during December 15 to January 15 and another peak during the Easter week. The district of Rodadero is a favorite resort of Colombians together with Cartagena and San Andres. The recently renovated downtown of Santa Marta with its blend of colonial and republican architecture attracts many visitors among them several cruise ships a week. Downtown Santa Marta is also building its own international marina, planned for completion in 2011. In this way Santa Marta hopes to attract international sailing boats, especially during the hurricane season, since Santa Marta is protected from hurricanes by the surrounding mountains. Las Fiestas del Mar (The Festival of the Sea) is an annual celebration during the midyear vacation period. One of the main events in the festival is the jetski show organized by Santa Marta Esqui. There are beauty pageants, parades and parties in the city. The Festival's slogan is "Santa Marta, la magia de tenerlo todo" ("Santa Marta, the magic of having it all").
Santa Marta has one sister city:[4]
The town has a football (soccer) team, Unión Magdalena, nicknamed El ciclón bananero (The Banana Cyclone).
Santa Marta is the birthplace of Colombia's most famous football player, Carlos Valderrama, as well as Radamel Falcao and Swiss international Johan Vonlanthen.
It is also the birthplace of Grammy Award-winning singer, actor and songwriter Carlos Vives.