Macanal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Macanal
Municipality and town
Church of Macanal
Flag
Location of the municipality and town of Macanal in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Country	Colombia
Department	Boyacá Department
Province	Neira Province
Founded	4 May 1807
Area
• Municipality and town	199.5 km2 (77.0 sq mi)
Elevation	1,680.3 m (5,512.8 ft)
Population  (2015)
• Municipality and town	4,821
• Density	24.165/km2 (62.588/sq mi)
• Urban	1,108
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Website	Official website: http://www.macanal-boyaca.gov.co/

Macanal is a small town and a special area called a municipality in Colombia. It is located in the Boyacá Department, which is like a state or province. Macanal is part of the Neira Province. The main town area sits in the Tenza Valley, which is in the Eastern Ranges of the Andes mountains.

The town is about 1,680 meters (5,512 feet) above sea level. Some parts of the municipality are even higher, reaching about 2,500 meters (8,200 feet). Macanal shares its borders with other towns. To the east is Campohermoso, to the west is Almeida, and to the north is Garagoa. To the south, it borders Santa María and Chivor.

What's in a Name?

The name Macanal might come from two different places. One idea is that it comes from the Chibcha word Macana. This word means a type of club or stick, like a garrote. Another idea is that it comes from a type of palm tree called the Macana palm (Wettinia kalbreyeri).

A Look Back in Time

The area where Macanal is today was once home to the Muisca. They were a group of native people who lived in a loose group of rulers called the Muisca Confederation. The zaque (a Muisca ruler) of Hunza was in charge of the Macanal area.

The modern town of Macanal was officially started on May 4, 1807.

Earth's Secrets: Geology

Near Macanal, there's a special type of rock called the Macanal Formation. This rock is an organic shale. Organic shale is a kind of rock that forms from mud and tiny bits of plants and animals over millions of years. It's called "organic" because it contains these ancient living things. This rock formation is named after Macanal because it's found there.

How People Make a Living

The main ways people in Macanal make money are through agriculture, raising livestock, and mining.

• Farming: Farmers grow many different crops. These include coffee (Coffea arabica), bananas, maize (corn), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), yuca (cassava), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza), avocadoes, papayas, mangoes, guayaba (guava), and different kinds of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus and Cyclanthera pedata).
• Raising Animals: People also raise farm animals like cows and pigs.
• Mining: The area is also known for mining. They dig for gypsum, which is used in plaster and drywall, and emeralds, which are beautiful green gemstones.

Climate

Macanal has a warm and humid climate. It rains a lot throughout the year, especially from April to August. The temperatures are quite steady, usually staying between 16 and 24 degrees Celsius (61 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit). This warm and wet weather is perfect for growing all the different crops found there.

Gallery

See also

In Spanish: Macanal para niños