Guachetá facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guachetá
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Municipality and town
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Central square Guachetá
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Location of the municipality and town inside Cundinamarca Department of Colombia
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 Guachetá
Location in Colombia
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| Country |  Colombia |
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| Department |  Cundinamarca |
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| Province | Ubaté Province | ||
| Founded | 12 March 1537 | ||
| Founded by | Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada | ||
| Area | |||
| • Municipality and town | 177.45 km2 (68.51 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 2,688 m (8,819 ft) | ||
| Population
(2015)
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| • Municipality and town | 11,385 | ||
| • Density | 64.159/km2 (166.171/sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 3,756 | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time) | ||
| Website | Official website: http://www.guacheta-cundinamarca.gov.co/index.shtml#2 | ||
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Guachetá is a town and a municipality in Colombia. It is part of the Cundinamarca area. Guachetá is about 118 kilometers (73 miles) away from Bogotá, the capital city.
The town is located in a high area called the Altiplano Cundiboyacense. Its elevation is between 2,600 meters (8,530 feet) and 3,500 meters (11,480 feet) above sea level. Guachetá shares borders with several other towns. These include Ráquira and Samacá to the north, Ubaté and Lenguazaque to the south, and Fúquene to the west.
History of Guachetá
When the Spanish explorers arrived in the central highlands of Colombia, they met the Muisca. The Muisca had their own groups, and Guachetá was one of these independent areas. It was led by a local chief, called a cacique.
The Spanish army leader Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada officially founded Guachetá on March 12, 1537. He first named it San Gregorio because of the date. The Muisca people spoke the Chibcha language. In Chibcha, the name Guachetá means "farmlands of the hill."
Muisca Mythology
The Muisca people had many interesting stories and myths. One famous story is about a young woman from Guachetá. She was the daughter of the local cacique. The myth says she became pregnant by the power of the Sun. The Sun was a very important god in the Muisca religion, known as Sué.
After nine months, she gave birth to an emerald. From this special emerald, a mythical chief named Goranchacha grew. He was believed to be the son of the Sun.
Guachetá's Economy
The people of Guachetá mainly work in a few important areas. One major activity is agriculture. Farmers grow crops like potatoes, maize (corn), peas, and beans.
Another important industry in Guachetá is coal mining. The town also has a strong focus on dairy production. This means they produce milk and other dairy products.
See also
In Spanish: Guachetá para niños
