La Mesa, Cundinamarca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Mesa
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Municipality and town
|
|||
Church of La Mesa
|
|||
|
|||
| Nickname(s):
La Mesa de Juan Díaz
|
|||
Localization in Cundinamarca, in Colombia
|
|||
| Country | Colombia | ||
| Department |  Cundinamarca |
||
| Province | Tequendama Province | ||
| Founded | 12 March 1777 | ||
| Founded by | Ramón Ibáñez, Laureano de Rojas & Joaquín de Lis | ||
| Area | |||
| • Municipality and town | 148.2 km2 (57.2 sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 3.89 km2 (1.50 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 1,200 m (3,900 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018 census)
|
|||
| • Municipality and town | 32,694 | ||
| • Density | 220.61/km2 (571.37/sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 16,854 | ||
| • Urban density | 4,333/km2 (11,222/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time) | ||
| Website | Official website: http://www.lamesa-cundinamarca.gov.co/ | ||
.svg)
.svg)
La Mesa is a town and municipality in Colombia. It is part of the Cundinamarca region. The town center is about 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Bogotá, the capital city.
Contents
Discovering La Mesa's Geography
La Mesa means "The Table" in Spanish. This name comes from its unique shape. The town sits on top of a flat area, like a table, in the middle of the Andes Mountains. This flat area is about 14 square kilometers (5.4 square miles) wide.
A Look into La Mesa's Past
Ancient Warriors and Spanish Arrival
Long ago, before the Spanish arrived, the Panche lived here. They were known as strong warriors. In 1538, the Panche were defeated by Spanish explorers and their allies in a big battle.
The Famous Botanical Expedition
La Mesa is famous for a special event called the Botanical Expedition. This journey started in 1783. A biologist named José Celestino Mutis led the expedition. They studied the plants and animals of the area. La Mesa was also a busy trading center for many years.
Moving the Town: A New Beginning
The original town of La Mesa was in a different spot. It was called Guayabal. But there wasn't enough water, and it was often muddy. So, in 1777, Spanish leaders decided to move the town. The new town center was built near the Carbonera river. The old location, with its 98 houses, is now known as Dos Caminos, meaning "Two Roads."
La Mesa's Role in Independence
The people of La Mesa were very important in Colombia's fight for independence from Spain. In 1810, the first group of soldiers for independence started from here. About 50 men, and later 300 more, went to Bogotá. La Mesa became a training place for soldiers. Many heroes trained here and fought bravely for freedom. Some even lost their lives in the town's main plaza.
Famous leaders also visited La Mesa. Simón Bolivar, a great liberator, passed through four times between 1821 and 1830. Antonio Nariño also came through in 1813, leading an army for the independence cause.
Understanding La Mesa's Climate
Unique Weather Patterns
Because La Mesa is in the East Mountain Range, it has special weather. Often, a thick fog covers the town. This fog forms when warm air from the Magdalena Valley rises and meets cooler air from around Bogotá.
Amazing Views from La Mesa
On clear days, you can see far into the distance. You might spot the snow-covered Nevado del Tolima and Ruiz volcanoes. The Santa Isabel snow hills are also visible to the west. You can even see the Magdalena River and the Central Mountain Range across from it.
The average temperature in La Mesa is about 24°C (75°F) all year round.
Discovering Ancient Life: Paleontology
In La Mesa, scientists found fossils of an ancient sea creature called Eonatator coellensis. These fossils were studied and described in 2013.
Famous People from La Mesa
- Karen Castiblanco: A professional tennis player.
- Nelly Garzón Alarcón: A nurse and teacher who lived from 1932 to 2019.
Gallery
-
Street in front of the stadium and the Francisco Julian Olaya school
-
7th street
-
7th street
-
Beautiful house on the 7th street
-
Other streets
-
Typical backyard
See also
In Spanish: La Mesa (Cundinamarca) para niños
