Aguadas, Caldas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aguadas, Caldas
Municipality and town
Flag Seal
Location of the municipality and town of Aguadas, Caldas in the Caldas Department of Colombia.
Aguadas, Caldas Location in Colombia
Country	Colombia
Department	Caldas Department
Population  (Census 2018)
• Total	20,712
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)

Aguadas is a cool town and municipality in the Caldas area of Colombia. It's surrounded by other towns like Abejorral and Sonsón. José Narciso Estrada founded Aguadas in 1808.

This town is super famous for its special "Aguadeño hats." These hats look a lot like the famous Panama hats! Aguadas also has a beautiful historic center. It was even declared a national monument in 1982. The town enjoys a mild climate, with temperatures ranging from warm to cool mountain air.

Another big event here is the National Festival of the Colombian Pasillo. This yearly festival celebrates the Pasillo, a traditional Colombian dance and music style. Because of this festival, Aguadas is known as the capital of the Colombian Pasillo!

Aguadas is part of the "Coffee Cultural Landscape." This area was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2011. This means it's a very special place for growing coffee and has unique cultural importance.

A Look Back: History of Aguadas

Long ago, the Coucuyes Indians lived in the area now called Aguadas. When Spanish explorers arrived, they called these Indians "Armados," which means "armed." This was probably because of their clothing.

One of the first Spaniards to visit these lands was Marshal Jorge Robledo. His commander, Sebastián de Belalcázar, told him to build a military fort. This fort was named Santiago de Arma in 1542.

People found gold in the area, and many families moved there. But when the gold ran out, people started to leave. The authorities even ordered the town of Arma to move to Rionegro. However, many villagers loved their home and refused to leave.

In 1808, many new settlers from Antioquia arrived. The villagers who stayed decided to found Aguadas. So, Aguadas is actually the modern name for the old Spanish town of Santiago de Arma!

A popular spot for travelers from Antioquia was an inn run by Manuela Ocampo. Mule drivers often stayed there. The town is also touched by the Arma and Cauca rivers. Over time, Aguadas has had many names. These include Ciudad de Ebejico, Ciudad de las Brumas (City of Mists), and La Aguada. Finally, it became known as Aguadas.

In 2012, Aguadas was named a Pueblo Patrimonio of Colombia. This means it's a special heritage town. It was the second town in Caldas to get this important recognition.

Weather in Aguadas

Aguadas has a subtropical highland climate. This means it has mild temperatures and a lot of rain all year round.

See also

In Spanish: Aguadas para niños