Chipaque facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chipaque
Municipality and town
Church of Chipaque
Flag Seal
Location of Chipaque inside Cundinamarca, Colombia
Chipaque Location in Colombia
Country	Colombia
Department	Cundinamarca
Province	Eastern Province
Founded	2 October 1600
Founded by	Luis Enríquez
Area
• Municipality and town	139.45 km2 (53.84 sq mi)
• Urban	2.1 km2 (0.8 sq mi)
Elevation	2,400 m (7,900 ft)
Population  (2015)
• Municipality and town	8,400
• Density	60.2/km2 (156.0/sq mi)
• Urban	2,530
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)

Chipaque is a town and a municipality (like a county) in the Cundinamarca region of Colombia. It covers about 139 square kilometers (54 square miles). Chipaque is high up in the Andes mountains, about 2,400 meters (7,874 feet) above sea level. It's also near the Eastern Hills of Bogotá.

The capital city of Colombia, Bogotá, is only about 27 kilometers (17 miles) west of Chipaque. Chipaque shares borders with Usme (a part of Bogotá) to the west. To the east, it borders Cáqueza. To the south is Une, and to the north is Ubaque. The average temperature in Chipaque is around 13°C (55°F).

What Does "Chipaque" Mean?

The name Chipaque comes from an old word, Chipapabacue. This word is from the Muysccubun language, spoken by the Muisca people. It means "Forest of our ancestors."

Symbols of Chipaque

Chipaque has its own flag and seal, which are important symbols for the town.

The Flag of Chipaque

The flag has two equal stripes. One stripe is yellow, and the other is green. Yellow stands for wealth and richness. Green represents hope and also shows the area's fertile land. A white triangle starts from the side of the flag where the pole is. Its points meet in the middle, where the yellow and green stripes join.

The Seal of Chipaque

The seal is an emblem framed by the flags of Colombia and Cundinamarca. Their flagpoles cross each other. A yellow ribbon is wrapped around the crossed flagpoles, with the name "Chipaque" written on it. At the bottom of the seal, you can see a typical landscape of the region and the sun.

The Land and Rocks of Chipaque

Chipaque is known for a special type of rock formation.

Chipaque Formation

The Chipaque Formation is a layer of rocks named after this area. It's made up of dark, organic shales and layers of sandstone. These rocks can tell us a lot about the Earth's history.

Páramo de Cruz Verde

The Páramo de Cruz Verde is a unique high-altitude ecosystem. It's located in the northern part of the municipality. Páramos are very important for water regulation and have special plants.

A Look Back: History of Chipaque

Chipaque has a rich history, dating back to before European settlers arrived.

Early Inhabitants: The Muisca People

Before the Spanish arrived, the area of Chipaque was home to the Muisca. They were an indigenous group in Colombia. The Muisca lived in a loose group of communities called the Muisca Confederation. Chipaque was part of a larger area ruled by a leader called a cacique from Ubaque.

Spanish Arrival and Founding

During the time of the Spanish conquest, a main Spanish leader named Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada sent a person named Juan Tafur to explore eastward. In 1538, Juan Tafur set up the first church in Chipaque. Modern Chipaque was officially founded on October 2, 1600, by a person named Luis Enríquez.

How Chipaque Makes a Living: Economy

The main ways people in Chipaque earn money are through farming and raising animals.

Farming in Chipaque

Agriculture (farming) is very important here. The most important crops grown are potatoes, which make up about 45% of the farm products. Onions are also a big crop, making up about 25%.

Raising Livestock

Livestock farming, which means raising animals like cows, is another key activity in Chipaque.

Gallery

See also

In Spanish: Chipaque para niños