Guasca facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Guasca
Municipality and town
View of Guasca from the west
Flag
Location of the municipality and town of Guasca in the Cundinamarca Department of Colombia
Guasca Location in Colombia
Country	Colombia
Department	Cundinamarca
Province	Guavio Province
Founded	21 June 1600
Founded by	Luis Enríquez
Area
• Municipality and town	346 km2 (134 sq mi)
• Urban	8.8 km2 (3.4 sq mi)
Elevation	2,710 m (8,890 ft)
Population  (2015)
• Municipality and town	14,759
• Density	42.66/km2 (110.48/sq mi)
• Urban	5,203
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Website	Official website: http://www.guasca-cundinamarca.gov.co/

Guasca is a town and municipality in Colombia. It is part of the Guavio Province in the Cundinamarca Department. Guasca is about 55 kilometers (34 miles) from Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia. You can reach it by passing through La Calera, Cundinamarca or Sopó.

Guasca shares its borders with several other towns. To the north, it borders Tocancipá and Guatavita. To the east, it borders Junín. In the south, you'll find La Calera, and to the west, it borders Sopó.

History of Guasca

Long ago, before the Spanish arrived, the area where Guasca is now was home to the Muisca. They were an ancient group who spoke the Chibcha language. A local leader, called a cacique, ruled Guasca. This cacique was loyal to the main cacique of Guatavita. The Siecha Lakes were very important to the Muisca. They considered these lakes to be sacred places in their religion.

What Does the Name Guasca Mean?

The name Guasca has an interesting meaning. A friar and Muisca scholar named Bernardo de Lugo studied the Chibcha language. He said that "Guasca" comes from two words: guâ, meaning "mountain range," and shucâ, meaning "skirt." So, the name "Guasca" means "skirt of the mountain range." This describes the town's location at the base of the Eastern Andes Mountains.

Guasca's Economy

The main ways people make a living in Guasca are through agriculture and dairy farming. Farmers grow crops like potatoes, carrots, and strawberries. They also grow beautiful flowers. Dairy farming is also a big part of the local economy.

Fun Things to Do in Guasca

Guasca is a great place for ecotourism, which means enjoying nature responsibly. It's close to the amazing Chingaza Natural National Park, where you can explore forests and wildlife. Other beautiful natural spots include Los Encenillos and the sacred Siecha Lakes. If you're looking for a place to eat or stay, Café la Huerta is one of the oldest hotels and restaurants in the area.

Famous People from Guasca

• Mariano Ospina Rodríguez - He was a very important person who became the president of the Granadine Confederation. This was a country that existed in South America before modern Colombia.

Interesting Facts About Guasca

• The plant Galinsoga parviflora is known as "Guasca(s)" in Colombia. It's a key ingredient in a popular Colombian soup called ajiaco.
• Some types of spiders, like Anapis guasca and Deinopis guasca, and a moth called Dognina guasca, are found in Guasca. They are even named after the town!

Climate

Gallery

See also

In Spanish: Guasca (Cundinamarca) para niños