Filandia, Quindío facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Filandia
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Municipality and town
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Filandia, Quindio
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| Nickname(s):
"La Colina Iluminada de los Andes" ("Illuminated Hill of the Andes")
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Location of the municipality and town of Filandia, Quindío in the Quindío Department of Colombia.
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| Country |  Colombia |
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| Department | Quindío | ||
| Founded | 20 August 1878 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Municipality and town | 109.4 km2 (42.2 sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 0.8 km2 (0.3 sq mi) | ||
| • Rural | 108.6 km2 (41.9 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 1,910 m (6,270 ft) | ||
| Population
(2023)
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| • Municipality and town | 12,596 | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time (GMT-5)) | ||
| Website | http://filandia-quindio.gov.co/index.shtml | ||
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Filandia is a charming town and municipality in the northern part of Quindío, Colombia. It sits on the western side of the Central Andes mountain range. This range runs right through the middle of Colombia. Filandia is about 26 kilometers north of Armenia, which is the capital city of the Quindío department. In 2023, about 12,596 people lived in Filandia.
Contents
History of Filandia
Filandia is known as "The Illuminated Hill of the Andes." It is the second oldest town in its department. Long ago, before Europeans arrived, the land was home to the Quimbaya people.
Early Inhabitants
The Quimbaya tribe lived here in ancient times. They were skilled farmers. They were also famous for their amazing metalwork. They created beautiful items from gold and tumbaga. Tumbaga is a special mix of gold and copper. The name Filandia means "daughter of the Andes." It comes from "Filia" (daughter) and "Andia" (Andes).
After the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, the number of Quimbaya people began to shrink. It is believed that Filandia and most of the Quindío region were empty for about 200 years. Then, in the 1800s, a movement called "Colonizacion Antioqueña" brought new settlers.
Founding and Growth
Around 1870, settlers from the Antioquia region in northwest Colombia began to settle in what is now Filandia. On August 20, 1878, Filandia was officially founded. Felipe Melendez and Eliseo Buitrago were among the founders. They were Colombians looking for a better life. The Antioqueño settlers came to Quindío because they heard rumors of lots of gold and emerald deposits.
In the early 1900s, Filandia was a busy and successful community. Trade and businesses grew a lot. By 1900, there were an estimated 250,000 coffee plants in Filandia. As more coffee was grown, many processing factories were built. This is how the famous coffee culture of the town began.
A Changing Town
However, by 1930, Filandia started to decline. The old road that settlers used became less important. A new highway was built to the east. This highway connected the capital of Risaralda and the capital of Quindío. This new route made it easier to transport goods and services. It bypassed Filandia, making the town feel a bit isolated.
Where is Filandia?
Filandia is the northernmost town in the Quindío Department. It is located on the western slope of the Central Andes mountains in Colombia. The town is part of the Alto Cauca basin and the Rio La Vieja sub-basin.
Location and Surroundings
The main part of the town is about 1,923 meters above sea level. The whole municipality ranges from 1,300 to 2,200 meters above sea level. The total area of Filandia stretches from the base of the Andes mountains to the plains of the northern Valle del Cauca department.
Filandia shares borders with several other places. To the north is the department of Risaralda. To the west is the department of Valle del Cauca. To the east is the town of Salento. To the south is Circasia. And to the southwest is Quimbaya.
What Grows Here?
Even though coffee is the main farm product, Filandia's varied environment is great for growing many different fruits and vegetables.
Filandia's Weather
Filandia has a subtropical highland climate. This means it has two main types of weather: "cold-humid" and "warm-humid." The average temperature each year is about 18 degrees Celsius. Rain happens sometimes, but it is not constant.
Sometimes, special weather events like El Niño and La Niña can cause hail. This happened most recently in 1996. About 15 centimeters of hail fell over much of northern Quindío then.
How Filandia Makes Money
Filandia is part of the Colombian coffee growing axis. This area is famous for its coffee. In 2011, the historic center of Filandia became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it is a very special place recognized by the United Nations.
Coffee and Tourism
Filandia's economy mostly depends on farming and tourism. Coffee is the most important crop. Many tourists visit the town. Another way people in Filandia get money is from family members. These family members have moved to places like the United States and Europe and send money back home. A large group of people from Filandia live in Madison, New Jersey.
Fun Places to Visit
The town has some very popular places for visitors. One is its "mirador," which is a viewing tower. From the top, you can see amazing views. You can look over the Cauca River valley to the west. You can also see the Parque Nacional Natural los Nevados to the east. On a clear day, you might even see Armenia and Pereira from the tower!
Another famous spot is a cafe in the main town square. Scenes from a popular Colombian TV show called Cafe, con aroma de mujer were filmed there.
See also
In Spanish: Filandia para niños
