Melgar, Tolima facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Melgar
Municipality and town
Flag Seal
Localities (localidades) of Tolima
Country	Colombia
Department	Tolima
Area
• Municipality and town	202.2 km2 (78.1 sq mi)
• Urban	13.92 km2 (5.37 sq mi)
Elevation	323 m (1,060 ft)
Population  (2018 census)
• Municipality and town	36,536
• Density	180.69/km2 (467.99/sq mi)
• Urban	29,749
• Urban density	2,137.1/km2 (5,535.2/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-5
Website	City Official Site: http://melgar-tolima.gov.co/index.shtml/

Melgar is a town in Colombia, located in the Department of Tolima. It is about 98 kilometers (60 miles) southwest of Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia. You can also reach it in about an hour's drive east from Ibagué, which is the capital of Tolima.

Melgar is nestled in the Sumapaz River Valley. To the north, it shares a border with the Department of Cundinamarca and the Sumapaz River. To the east, you'll find the town of Icononzo, while Cunday is to the south and Carmen de Apicala to the west.

This town is famous for being a popular weekend getaway, especially for people from Bogotá. They come here to escape the colder weather of the capital and enjoy Melgar's warm climate. It's often called the "City of the Swimming Pools" because it has more than 5,000 pools! Melgar is also home to a big military base called Tolemaida Air Base.

Melgar's Past: A Look at Its History

The first settlement in this area was known as "Cualamana." Later, its name was changed to "Villa de Nuestra Señora de Altagracia." In 1601, Captain Juan Lopez de Herrera gave it a new name: "La Candelaria." This place was once an ancient village of the Amerindian group called the Panches.

In the early 1700s, a big fire destroyed the village during local religious celebrations. But the community didn't give up! The village was rebuilt in 1789 by the Dominican religious group. They built it on land owned by Cardenas Varastegui, in the Sumapaz River valley. In its early days, people called the area "Valle de Melgar."

In 1824, Melgar became part of the Department of Cundinamarca, along with other towns like Tibacuy and Cunday. By 1851, about 2,600 people lived there, and the local economy mainly focused on producing a plant called quina.

Later, in 1855, Melgar joined the Province of Neiva. At this time, the town also started growing coffee. Melgar officially became a town by a special order on November 13, 1871. After the Department of Tolima was created, Melgar became a part of it.

Melgar's Climate: Warm and Sunny

View of Melgar from Cafam Resort

Melgar has a special type of weather called a "Tropical Monsoon Climate." This means it's generally warm and humid, with a rainy season and a drier season. This kind of climate is quite rare in the world.

The temperature in Melgar usually stays between 28 and 35 degrees Celsius (82 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit). This warm weather is one of the main reasons why so many people visit, especially from colder cities like Bogotá.

See also

In Spanish: Melgar (Tolima) para niños