Mongua facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mongua
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Municipality and town
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Central square of Mongua
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Location of the municipality and town of Mongua in the Boyacá Department of Colombia.
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| Country |  Colombia |
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| Department | Boyacá Department | |
| Province | Sugamuxi Province | |
| Founded | 4 November 1977 | |
| Area | ||
| • Municipality and town | 365.5 km2 (141.1 sq mi) | |
| • Urban | 13.79 km2 (5.32 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 2,975 m (9,760 ft) | |
| Population
(2005)
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| • Municipality and town | 4,717 | |
| • Urban | 1,628 | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time) | |
| Website | Official website: http://www.mongua-boyaca.gov.co/index.shtml#1 | |
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Mongua is a town and a municipality (which is like a local government area) in Colombia, a country in South America. It is located in the Boyacá Department, specifically in a region called Sugamuxi Province. Mongua is nestled high up in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes mountains. The town sits at different heights, from about 1,400 meters (4,600 feet) to 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level.
The municipality of Mongua shares its borders with several other towns. These include Gámeza, Socotá, Pisba, Labranzagrande, Aquitania, Sogamoso, Monguí, and Tópaga.
Discovering Mongua's Past
Long, long ago, even before the Spanish explorers arrived, the central highlands of Colombia were home to a clever group of people called the Muisca. Mongua was an important part of their land. It was ruled by a leader known as the iraca of Sugamuxi.
The Muisca people had many interesting beliefs. According to their religion, a special messenger god named Bochica once traveled to a place called Gámeza. He found shelter in a cave known as Toy´ña. The local leader, or cacique, of Mongua brought him gifts in this cave.
The name "Mongua" itself comes from the Chibcha language of the Muisca people. It can mean a few things, like "bath on the hill" or "land of the rising Sun."
What Mongua Does: Economy
The main ways people in Mongua make a living are through agriculture and coal mining. Farmers in Mongua mostly grow potatoes, which are a very important crop for the region. Mining for coal also provides many jobs and helps the local economy.
Gallery
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Central square
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Laguna negra ("black lake")
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Laguna negra
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Laguna negra waterfall
See also
In Spanish: Mongua para niños
