Manta, Cundinamarca

Manta
Municipality
Manta (Cundinamarca)

Flag
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Motto: Retazo de cielo (Sky piece)

Location of the town and municipality of Manta in Cundinamarca Department.
Manta

Location within Colombia

Coordinates: 5°05′N 73°35′W / 5.083°N 73.583°WCoordinates: 5°05′N 73°35′W / 5.083°N 73.583°W
Country  Colombia
Region Andean Region
Department Cundinamarca
Province Los Almeidas
Foundation 24 July 1772
Founded by José Joaquín-Pompeya
Government
 • Mayor Félix Cárdenas-Castañeda
Area
 • Total 105 km2 (41 sq mi)
Elevation 1,924 m (6,312 ft)
Population (2005)
 • Total 14,393

Manta is a municipality and town located in the northeast of the department of Cundinamarca (Colombia), 90 kilometers from Bogota (55 miles). It is located in the province of Los Almeidas in the region known as Valle de Tenza. Form limits of Cundinamarca and Boyaca departments, limiting the east with the municipalities of Guateque and Guayata.

Toponym

The name Manta in the Muisca language means "To your tillage". This name comes from the ancient indigenous people who inhabited the territory of the Muisca Confederation. Another Muisca name that remains is the name of the village Fuchatoque, located on the eastern side of the city center, headquarters of the former command chief of the same name.

History

Pre-Columbian and colonial period

Manta was founded on July 24, 1772 by José Joaquín Pompeya. Another of the founders was named Juan José Bernal Ramírez. The first inhabitants, indigenous Muisca, settled in pre-Columbian times, and settled on a main around the plateau where the current town center, which was once a small lake. According to the founding myth in the center of the lake was an island, which was sighted in the image of 'San Joaquin', a name that means the actual building of the Catholic Church. Before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, Manta was part of the domains and boundaries of the Muisca Confederation, but after the conquest, the indigenous inhabitants were displaced to neighboring municipality of Tibirita (Cundinamarca). The Spanish and 'mestizos' were those who stayed to form the town of Manta.

To set the limits and jurisdiction of the municipality, the territory was formed from the area called "Manta Grande" adding a piece of land that included the old municipality of Guateque.

Republican period

The constitution of the United States of Colombia created conflicts between federalist and centralist groups, and between conservatives and liberals in the late nineteenth century. One of the key events was a conspiracy by the president of the Federal State of Cundinamarca, Gen. Daniel Aldana (born in Manta), who commanded troops in support of revolutionary and radical integralist federalism in Bogota, attempted a failed coup State against the President of the Union Rafael Nuñez. After that, Daniel Aldana was removed from office and Cundinamarca became a Federal District by Decree 769 of November 7, 1885, and Gen. Jaime Córdoba would be named governor.[1]

In the early twentieth century, Manta was not exempt from the political violence that hit the country, and for several years was the scene of the war between the traditional parties (liberal and conservative parties). Some roads still show some trenches that over time have been filled with little vegetation.

Manta is also historically known as one of the possible places of birth of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán.[2]

Geographic

The territory that makes up the town of Manta is located in the eastern side of the eastern range of the Colombian Andes. It is a steep mountainous terrain irregularities with a single plateau where is located the urban area. These irregularities cause abrupt elevation varies from 1,500 to 3,400 meters of altitude (4900 to 11000 feet). The maximum altitude is 3,400 meters (11000 feet) that corresponds to the hill of "La Laguna" also named hill of "La Petaca".

Manta is located in a depression formed by the river basin of 'Aguacia' river that divides the territory into two parts. The territory is bounded by a mountain course that begins and ends in the north in the east where the 'Macheta' river and the 'Aguacia' river form the 'Sunuba' river, tributary of the water reservoir of 'La Esmeralda' (The Emerald) (also named 'Chivor'). At the top of the mountain, is the 'Laguna del Cerro' (Lake of the Hill) (also named 'Laguna de la Petaca'), which has been established as a nature reserve area of the municipality. There are several creeks and streams along the mountain river flowing into the 'Aguacia river'. Some of these streams as it descends through the mountains and waterfalls form the creek of 'El Golpe' (The Strike).

Manta bordered to the north with municipality of 'Tibirita', on the west with the municipality of Macheta, to he south with the municipality of 'Gacheta' in Guavio province and east with the Boyaca department and its municipalities 'Guateque' and 'Guayata'.

Climate

Manta is located in the eastern side of the Andes mountains, the climate of Manta has the distinction of being influenced more by the winds from the 'Llanos Orientales' of Colombia (Colombian Eastern Plains). The climate is very pleasant most of the year, presenting an average temperature between 18 and 23 °C (73.4 °F). It is a dry equatorial climate for the forest ecosystem of high mountain (high Andean forest or cloud forest). Despite being affected by the phenomenon of 'El Niño' and in most of Colombia, in the storms and heavy rain periods of 'La Niña' the weather of Manta remains drier compared to the region of the 'Sabana de Bogota'.

The rainy season runs from mid-April to mid-November. The months with temporary driest are December and January. Extreme temperatures recorded in the city center have been 11 °C (51.8 °F) the coldest and 28 °C (82.4 °F) the warmest.

Demographics

The town's inhabitants are mostly descendants of early Spanish colonists and the Muisca indigenous. The population has decreased since the 1960s, due to migration to big cities like Bogota. However, because of its location near the Sabana de Bogota, Manta has become a place of rest and holiday, mainly of people who keep a link with the municipality. This makes the population varies significantly throughout the year, especially during vacation seasons, weekends and bank holidays. Manta is regularly inhabited by a population of about 4,500 inhabitants, however, in times of greatest influx of nonresident population this figure can vary between 10,000 and 16,000 inhabitants without counting the number of tourists.

Turism

In recent years, Manta has become a place of rest from the hectic life of the big cities. There are some natural tourist destinations like the 'Quebrada de El Golpe', the Laguna de la Petaca, and the 'Cerro de la Petaca'. The lake 'El Golpe' is located at 3,200 meters above sea level has become a nature reserve next to adjacent native forest and 'El Cerro de la Petaca', which is the highest altitude point of the mountain, at 3,400 meters. This reserve is under the administration of the municipality, and is visited on annual trip scheduled in the first week of January.

The municipality also has developed infrastructure for sports and recreational activities such as Stadium, the Sports Center and the Municipal Swimming Pool.

References

  1. ↑ Velandia, R. 1979. Enciclopedia histórica de Cundinamarca. Bogotá D.C.: BAC.
  2. ↑ "Abril 9 de 1948 La muerte del caudillo, Articulo Impreso Archivado". Semana.com. Retrieved 2012-10-20.