Choachí facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Choachí Chiguachí
Municipality and town
Rural view of Choachí
Flag Seal
Location of the municipality and town inside Cundinamarca Department of Colombia
Choachí Location in Colombia
Country	Colombia
Department	Cundinamarca
Province	Eastern Province
Founded	29 September 1560
Founded by	Antonio Bermúdez
Area
• Municipality and town	223 km2 (86 sq mi)
• Urban	10.4 km2 (4.0 sq mi)
Elevation	1,923 m (6,309 ft)
Population  (2015)
• Municipality and town	10,729
• Density	48.11/km2 (124.61/sq mi)
• Urban	3,615
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Website	Official website: http://www.choachi-cundinamarca.gov.co/index.shtml#1

Choachí is a town and area in Colombia. It is located in the eastern part of the Cundinamarca region. Choachí is surrounded by other towns. To the north is La Calera. To the south is Ubaque. Fómeque is to the east. To the west of Choachí is Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia. The center of Choachí is about 38 kilometers (24 miles) from Bogotá. A special high-altitude area called the Páramo de Cruz Verde is also found within Choachí.

What Does Choachí Mean?

The name Choachí comes from an old language called Chibcha. The original name was Chi-gua-chí. This means "Our Mountain of the Moon." The Muisca were an ancient group of people. They deeply respected the Moon and worshipped a goddess named Chía. They had many places to worship her. People believe that Choachí was one of these special Moon worship sites.

Geography of Choachí

Choachí is famous for being home to the tallest waterfall in Colombia. This amazing waterfall is called La Chorrera. It is incredibly tall, reaching about 590 meters (1,940 feet) high!

A Look at Choachí's History

Long ago, the area where Choachí is now was home to the southern Muisca. They were part of a larger group called the Muisca Confederation. Their leader was known as the zipa of Bacatá.

The modern town of Choachí was officially started in 1560. This happened during the time of the Spanish conquest of the Muisca. A Spanish explorer named Antonio Bermúdez founded the town. He was part of the army led by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Later, in 1601, a church was built in Choachí.

Over time, between the 1600s and 1800s, the original native population of the area greatly decreased.

What People Do in Choachí

The main ways people make a living in Choachí are through farming and raising livestock like cows. Many visitors, especially from Bogotá, also come to Choachí. This tourism helps the local people earn money.

Ancient Discoveries

In the early 1900s, a special object called the Choachí Stone was found in Choachí. It might have been found in an ancient burial site. This stone is carved from a type of rock called lydite. Some people think it shows the Muisca calendar. This was a very complex calendar used by the Muisca people. It helped them track both the Moon and the Sun. Also, ancient rock carvings, called petroglyphs, have been found in Choachí.

Climate

Gallery

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  Cara del indio, a rock shaped like an Indian's face

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  The highest waterfall in Colombia

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  A rural part of Choachí

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  Cows in the fog

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  The road leading to Choachí

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  Charcoal burners of Choachí in 1850 by Ramón Torres Méndez.

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  The Church of San Miguel in Choachí

Fun Facts

• Some parts of the popular TV show Escobar, el patrón del mal were filmed in Choachí.
• The tallest waterfall in Colombia, which is 590 meters (1,940 feet) high, is located in Choachí.

See also

In Spanish: Choachí para niños