Huacaraje Municipality facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Huacaraje Municipality
Municipality
Country	Bolivia
Department	Beni Department
Province	Iténez Province
Time zone	UTC-4 (BOT)

Huacaraje (also called Guacaraje) is a small town and a special area in Bolivia. It's located in the Beni Department, within the Iténez Province. You can find it between the towns of Magdalena and Baures. This area is quite large, covering about 9,876 square kilometers. Around 3,700 people live here. The weather is tropical and humid, meaning it's often hot and rainy. The average temperature is about 32.5°C (around 90°F).

History of Huacaraje

This town has an interesting past! A historian named Saúl Suárez Medina wrote in his book "Almanaque Oriental" that Huacaraje was started on November 29, 1800. About 80 families from the Itonama group were part of its founding.

Who Founded Huacaraje?

Ramón Velarde, who was a local leader (called a corregidor) from Magdalena, helped create the town. He wanted it to be a place where travelers could rest. It was a good stop for people traveling the long distance between Magdalena and Baures.

What Does the Name Mean?

The name "Huacaraje" comes from the Itonama word "Guacanaro." This word means "place of rest." It makes sense, given that it was founded as a resting spot for travelers!

Economy and Daily Life

The main way people in Huacaraje make a living is through livestock farming. This means raising animals like cows. The soil here is a bit sandy, but people also grow food for themselves. This is called subsistence agriculture.

Local Crafts and Activities

People in Huacaraje are also very skilled at making things by hand. They create beautiful hammocks and hats. They also make crafts from wood. Besides farming and crafting, they enjoy traditional activities like hunting, fishing, and gathering wild fruits. One of the wild fruits they collect is cocoa, which is used to make chocolate!

How Huacaraje is Organized

Huacaraje is divided into different parts to help manage it. Besides the main town area, where about 2,300 people live, there are also three smaller communities.

Communities in Huacaraje

• La Embrolla, with about 113 people.
• Pariagua, with about 12 people.
• Isla Grande, with about 54 people.

El Carmen Canton

There's also a larger area called the El Carmen canton, which has about 1,063 people. This canton includes three smaller communities:

• • Buena Hora, with about 35 people.
  • San Pedro, with about 82 people.
  • Besuria, with about 20 people.

Famous People from Huacaraje

One well-known person from Huacaraje is Jessica Jordan. She was once crowned Miss Bolivia, which means she was chosen as the most beautiful woman in Bolivia. She also ran for governor of the Beni Department two times. She was born and spent her childhood right here in Huacaraje!