Santa Marta

This article is about the Colombian city. For other uses, see Santa Marta (disambiguation).
Santa Marta
City

Top:Panorama view of the Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta, from inside the swamp, 2nd left:View of Mirador in Cabo San Juan del Guia, Tayrona Natural Park, 2nd right:Santa Marta Cathedral (La Casa del Farol), 3rd left:Statue of Simon Bolivar in Quinta of Saint Pedro Alejandrino, 3rd upper middle:Colombian National Pantheon in Barrio Mamatoco, 3rd lower middle:Night view of Snta Marta City Hall, 3rd right:Twilight view of Tribute to the Tayrona Ethnicity Square, Bottom:Panoramic view of Acuatico El Rodadero Park and resort area, from De Gaira area

Flag
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): America's Pearl (La Perla de America)

Location in the Department of Magdalena.
Municipality (dark gray)
City (red)
Santa Marta

Location in Colombia

Coordinates: 11°14′31″N 74°12′19″W / 11.24194°N 74.20528°WCoordinates: 11°14′31″N 74°12′19″W / 11.24194°N 74.20528°W
Country  Colombia
Region Caribbean Region
Department Magdalena
Foundation July 29, 1525
Founded by Rodrigo de Bastidas
Named for Martha
Government
 • Mayor Carlos Eduardo Caicedo Omar (Liberal)
Area
 • City 2,393.65 km2 (924.07 sq mi)
 • Urban 55.10 km2 (21.27 sq mi)
Elevation 6 m (20 ft)
Highest elevation 5,775 m (18,947 ft)
Population (2010)[1]
 • City 454,860
 • Density 190/km2 (490/sq mi)
 • Urban 385,122
 • Urban density 6,989.5/km2 (18,106.3/sq mi)
  DANE
Demonym Samario
Time zone Colombia Standard Time (UTC-05)
Area code(s) 57 + 5
Website Official website (Spanish)

Santa Marta is a city in Colombia. It is the capital of the department of Magdalena and third largest urban city of the Caribbean Region of Colombia, after Barranquilla and Cartagena. Founded on July 29, 1525, by the Spanish conquistador Rodrigo de Bastidas, it was the first Spanish settlement in Colombia, and is the oldest surviving city in that country, and second oldest in South America.[2] This city is situated on a bahía of the same name and as such, is a prime tourist destination [3]

History

Pre-Colombian times

Before the arrival of Europeans, the South American continent was inhabited by a number of indigenous groups. Due to a combination of tropical weather, significant rainfall, and the destruction and misrepresentation of many records by Spanish conquistadors, our understanding of the peoples of this region is limited.

The Tairona formed mid to large-sized population centers, consisting of stone pathways, terraces, protected waterways, and spaces dedicated to agricultural produce. Their economy was primarily agricultural, cultivating corn, pineapple, yucca, and other local foodstuffs. The Tayrona are considered quite advanced for their time period. Surviving archaeological sites consisted of formed terraces and small scale underground stone channels. They also were known to actively collect and process salt, which was a significant trading commodity. We know that they traded with other indigenous groups along the coast and interior. Archaeological excavations have recovered significant works in pottery, stonework and gold.

Flag

Santa Marta’s flag consists of two colors: white and blue. White symbolizes peace, in that all are united without restriction. Blue symbolizes the sky, the sea, the magic found in the horizon, and the snow-capped Sierra Madre mountains.

Geography

Vista satelital de la Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Santa Marta is located in the bay of Santa Marta along the Caribbean Sea in the province of Magdalena. It is 992 km from Bogotá and 93 km from famous Barranquilla. It is bordered to the north and west by the Caribbean and to the south with the municipalities of Aracataca and Ciénaga.

Climate

Climate data for Santa Marta
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 37.0
(98.6)		 38.2
(100.8)		 37.0
(98.6)		 37.6
(99.7)		 37.4
(99.3)		 37.4
(99.3)		 37.8
(100)		 37.4
(99.3)		 37.2
(99)		 36.0
(96.8)		 38.2
(100.8)		 36.4
(97.5)		 38.2
(100.8)
Average high °C (°F) 33.0
(91.4)		 33.5
(92.3)		 33.7
(92.7)		 33.4
(92.1)		 32.6
(90.7)		 32.7
(90.9)		 32.7
(90.9)		 32.4
(90.3)		 31.9
(89.4)		 31.5
(88.7)		 31.7
(89.1)		 32.3
(90.1)		 32.62
(90.72)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27.2
(81)		 27.7
(81.9)		 28.2
(82.8)		 28.8
(83.8)		 28.8
(83.8)		 29.0
(84.2)		 28.6
(83.5)		 28.3
(82.9)		 27.9
(82.2)		 27.7
(81.9)		 27.7
(81.9)		 27.2
(81)		 28.09
(82.58)
Average low °C (°F) 21.7
(71.1)		 22.6
(72.7)		 23.7
(74.7)		 24.9
(76.8)		 25.1
(77.2)		 24.6
(76.3)		 24.0
(75.2)		 24.0
(75.2)		 23.8
(74.8)		 23.6
(74.5)		 23.2
(73.8)		 22.0
(71.6)		 23.6
(74.49)
Record low °C (°F) 17.4
(63.3)		 18.3
(64.9)		 20.0
(68)		 20.9
(69.6)		 18.8
(65.8)		 21.6
(70.9)		 20.6
(69.1)		 20.3
(68.5)		 19.0
(66.2)		 21.0
(69.8)		 19.0
(66.2)		 18.2
(64.8)		 17.4
(63.3)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 6.9
(0.272)		 2.7
(0.106)		 1.8
(0.071)		 9.1
(0.358)		 58.3
(2.295)		 53.1
(2.091)		 63.2
(2.488)		 57.3
(2.256)		 81.9
(3.224)		 108.4
(4.268)		 45.5
(1.791)		 11.1
(0.437)		 499.3
(19.657)
Avg. rainy days 1 1 1 2 7 8 9 12 13 13 7 2 76
Average relative humidity (%) 73 72 70 72 76 75 75 77 78 79 77 75 74.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 281.0 251.0 251.6 226.8 221.8 230.3 226.2 219.8 202.4 204.7 226.4 279.3 2,821.3
Source: Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales[4]

Economy

Santa Marta's economy is based on tourism, trade, port activities, fishing and agriculture, in that order. The main agricultural products are: bananas, coffee, cocoa and cassava.

Infrastructure

Santa Marta is a major port. Simon Bolivar International Airport (IATA: SMR ) is 16 km (10 mi) from the city centre. It should be noted that historic figure Simon Bolivar died here, a significant event for South America as a whole. His villa known as La Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino is located just outside of the city centre. As the main city centre is located close to the coast, the city itself has had difficulty controlling expansion. Although, technically a separate locality, Rodadero is often considered part of Santa Marta itself.

Twin towns

Santa Marta has one sister city: Miami Beach, Florida.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Boletín Censo General 2005 - Perfil Santa Marta" (PDF). DANE. Retrieved 27 Nov 2012.
  2. ↑ "Santa Marta historia y tradición" (in Spanish). Ministerio de Educación Nacional. Retrieved 2009.
  3. ↑ "Colombia" (in Spanish). Decameron. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  4. ↑ "Cartas Climatológicas – Medias Mensuales – Aeropuerto Simón Bolivar (Santa Marta)" (in Spanish). Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  5. ↑ Miami Beach Sister Cities Program

References

External links