Cerrito, Santander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cerrito, Santander
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Municipality and town
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Location of the municipality and town of Cerrito, Santander in the Santander Department of Colombia.
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| Country |  Colombia |
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| Department | Santander Department | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time) | ||
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Cerrito is a town and municipality in Colombia. It is located in the Santander Department in the northeastern part of the country. Cerrito is known for its beautiful natural surroundings. It also has important historical sites like the Chapel of Jesus Nazareno and the old ruins of a Spanish seminary in Servitá village.
History of Cerrito
Cerrito has an interesting past. In 1772, the people living in Servitá were connected to a faraway church in Concepción. It was very hard for them to travel there for religious services. The roads were dangerous and difficult to use.
Because of these challenges, the people of the area asked for their own church. In 1775, the viceroy Manuel Guirior approved their request. This led to the official founding of the municipality of Cerrito. Vicente Calderón was a key leader in this community effort.
Later, after Colombia became independent from Spain, the people of Cerrito faced many challenges. To find strength during these difficult times, the town council made a special decision on June 29, 1889. They dedicated the town and its people to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Geography and Nature
Cerrito covers an area of about 549 square kilometers. It is a very cool place, with temperatures around 14 to 16 degrees Celsius in the main town. This is because it is located in a high-altitude region. The land here ranges from 2,220 to 4,200 meters above sea level.
One of the most notable natural features is the "Páramo del Almorzadero". This area includes the highest mountain pass in Colombia, which is about 3,800 meters above sea level. A páramo is a special type of ecosystem found in the Andes mountains, known for its unique plants and cold, misty weather.
Climate
| Climate data for Cerrito (Tinaga Gja), elevation 2,698 m (8,852 ft), (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 20.0 (68.0) |
20.2 (68.4) |
20.1 (68.2) |
19.5 (67.1) |
19.0 (66.2) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.2 (64.8) |
18.3 (64.9) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.4 (65.1) |
18.6 (65.5) |
19.4 (66.9) |
19.0 (66.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 13.8 (56.8) |
14.0 (57.2) |
13.9 (57.0) |
13.8 (56.8) |
13.7 (56.7) |
13.5 (56.3) |
13.2 (55.8) |
13.2 (55.8) |
13.2 (55.8) |
13.2 (55.8) |
13.5 (56.3) |
13.7 (56.7) |
13.6 (56.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 7.6 (45.7) |
8.2 (46.8) |
8.3 (46.9) |
9.0 (48.2) |
9.0 (48.2) |
9.0 (48.2) |
8.5 (47.3) |
8.4 (47.1) |
8.2 (46.8) |
8.3 (46.9) |
8.3 (46.9) |
7.9 (46.2) |
8.4 (47.1) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 29.6 (1.17) |
50.1 (1.97) |
90.3 (3.56) |
146.8 (5.78) |
145.6 (5.73) |
86.1 (3.39) |
72.2 (2.84) |
103.6 (4.08) |
143.1 (5.63) |
168.8 (6.65) |
122.7 (4.83) |
53.3 (2.10) |
1,212.3 (47.73) |
| Average precipitation days | 8 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 15 | 10 | 184 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 69 | 70 | 73 | 78 | 79 | 77 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 80 | 78 | 72 | 76 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 210.8 | 160.9 | 173.6 | 132.0 | 130.2 | 117.0 | 151.9 | 142.6 | 138.0 | 133.3 | 150.0 | 189.1 | 1,829.4 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 6.8 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 6.1 | 5.0 |
| Source: Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales | |||||||||||||
Protecting the Andean Condor
The Andean Condor is a very important bird in Colombia. It is a national symbol and is protected by law. Sadly, there are very few Andean Condors left in Colombia, perhaps fewer than 150. This makes every single condor very precious.
In the area around Cerrito, there have been sad incidents where condors have been harmed. Some people used poisoned bait, thinking it would protect their farm animals. However, harming condors is against the law and very damaging to nature.
For example, in 2019, several condors were poisoned. In 2021, more condors were found dead or very sick in the Páramo del Almorzadero area. Animal protection groups and citizens were very upset by these events.
Authorities like the Attorney General's Office and the CAS (Corporación Autónoma Regional de Santander) are working to investigate these incidents. They want to make sure that these majestic birds are safe. It is very important for everyone to understand that condors are a vital part of Colombia's wildlife and must be protected.
See also
In Spanish: Cerrito (Santander) para niños
