Neiva, Huila facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Neiva
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Municipality and city
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| Municipio de Neiva | |||
     From the top: Neiva skyline, José Eustasio Rivera convention center, Cacica La Gaitana monument, La Bambuquera monument, Contemporary art of Huila museum.
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| Nickname(s):
La capital del río Magdalena (Magdalena River's Capital)
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Location in the Huila Department. Urban in red, municipality in dark gray
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 Neiva
Location in Colombia
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| Country |  Colombia |
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| Region | Andean | ||
| Department | Huila | ||
| Foundation | May 24, 1612 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Municipality and city | 1,270 km2 (490 sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 47.29 km2 (18.26 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 442 m (1,450 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018 census)
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| • Municipality and city | 357,392 | ||
| • Density | 281.4/km2 (728.9/sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 335,994 | ||
| • Urban density | 7,105.0/km2 (18,401.8/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Neivano | ||
| Time zone | UTC-05 (Eastern Time Zone) | ||
| Postal code |
410001-18
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| Area code(s) | 57 + 8 | ||
| Anthem | "Hoy a Neiva Cantad Corazones" | ||
| Website | Official website: http://www.alcaldianeiva.gov.co/ | ||
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Neiva is a big city in south-central Colombia. It is the capital and most populated city of the Huila Department. Neiva is located in the beautiful valley of the Magdalena River.
About 357,392 people live in Neiva. It is a very important city in southern Colombia. This is because of its great location.
Contents
History of Neiva
Neiva has a long and interesting history. It was founded three times before finding its current home.
Early Foundations of Neiva
The city was first started in 1539 by Juan de Cabrera. This was in an area that is now the municipality of Campoalegre.
Later, in 1550, Juan de Alonso y Arias moved the city. He moved it to where the municipality of Villavieja is today. However, local tribes destroyed the city in 1560.
Neiva's Final Location
The city was founded for the third and final time in 1612. Diego de Ospina y Medinilla chose its current location. This is where Neiva stands today.
Neiva's Importance in Colonial Times
Neiva became very important during the time of Spanish rule. It was a key stop on the trade route. This route connected the Viceroyalty of Peru with big cities like Bogotá and Caracas.
The city was made the capital of the Province of Neiva. This province included several local councils. In 1905, Neiva became the capital of the new Huila Department. This department was created from the Tolima Department.
Major Events in Neiva's History
In 1967, a strong earthquake hit Neiva. It had a magnitude of 7.2. The earthquake damaged many buildings. One of them was the Governor's building.
In 2003, the city experienced a serious event. There was a large explosion that caused harm to many people.
Geography and Climate in Neiva
Neiva is located near the equator. This means it has a hot climate all year round.
Neiva's Climate Type
The city has a dry-summer tropical savannah climate. This type of climate is quite rare around the world.
Temperatures in Neiva
Because it is close to the equator and not very high up, Neiva is usually hot. Daytime temperatures are often between 88 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (31 to 35 degrees Celsius).
Distance to Bogotá
Neiva is about 300 kilometers (186.4 miles) from Bogotá. This is the capital of Colombia. It takes about five hours to drive between the two cities.
Neiva's Antipode
Did you know that the city of Palembang in Indonesia is Neiva's antipode? This means it is on the exact opposite side of the Earth!
| Climate data for Neiva (Benito Salas Airport), elevation 439 m (1,440 ft), (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 32.8 (91.0) |
33.1 (91.6) |
32.6 (90.7) |
32.3 (90.1) |
32.5 (90.5) |
33.2 (91.8) |
33.7 (92.7) |
34.6 (94.3) |
34.7 (94.5) |
32.9 (91.2) |
31.5 (88.7) |
31.8 (89.2) |
33.0 (91.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 27.9 (82.2) |
28.1 (82.6) |
27.7 (81.9) |
27.3 (81.1) |
27.5 (81.5) |
27.8 (82.0) |
28.1 (82.6) |
28.9 (84.0) |
29.1 (84.4) |
27.8 (82.0) |
26.9 (80.4) |
27.1 (80.8) |
27.8 (82.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.4 (72.3) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.5 (72.5) |
22.5 (72.5) |
22.4 (72.3) |
22.5 (72.5) |
23.1 (73.6) |
23.0 (73.4) |
22.5 (72.5) |
22.3 (72.1) |
22.3 (72.1) |
22.5 (72.5) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 100.4 (3.95) |
123.6 (4.87) |
162.5 (6.40) |
149.5 (5.89) |
94.9 (3.74) |
34.8 (1.37) |
31.3 (1.23) |
19.9 (0.78) |
60.5 (2.38) |
204.2 (8.04) |
232.3 (9.15) |
165.9 (6.53) |
1,379.8 (54.32) |
| Average precipitation days | 11 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 156 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 69 | 68 | 71 | 72 | 71 | 64 | 58 | 55 | 56 | 67 | 75 | 74 | 66 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 204.6 | 160.9 | 151.9 | 150.0 | 164.3 | 165.0 | 170.5 | 173.6 | 162.0 | 170.5 | 165.0 | 186.0 | 2,024.3 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 6.6 | 5.7 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 5.5 |
| Source: Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Neiva (Palacio-Vegalarga), elevation 1,100 m (3,600 ft), (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 27.2 (81.0) |
27.5 (81.5) |
27.2 (81.0) |
27.0 (80.6) |
27.1 (80.8) |
27.4 (81.3) |
27.7 (81.9) |
28.6 (83.5) |
28.8 (83.8) |
27.7 (81.9) |
26.3 (79.3) |
26.4 (79.5) |
27.4 (81.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 22.5 (72.5) |
22.6 (72.7) |
22.3 (72.1) |
22.2 (72.0) |
22.3 (72.1) |
22.3 (72.1) |
22.3 (72.1) |
22.8 (73.0) |
23.0 (73.4) |
22.5 (72.5) |
21.9 (71.4) |
22.0 (71.6) |
22.4 (72.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 18.6 (65.5) |
18.7 (65.7) |
18.7 (65.7) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.7 (65.7) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.2 (64.8) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.7 (65.7) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.5 (65.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 121.9 (4.80) |
119.8 (4.72) |
188.2 (7.41) |
181.5 (7.15) |
135.3 (5.33) |
65.5 (2.58) |
53.5 (2.11) |
44.3 (1.74) |
63.8 (2.51) |
212.8 (8.38) |
215.6 (8.49) |
158.9 (6.26) |
1,550.4 (61.04) |
| Average precipitation days | 13 | 14 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 214 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 77 | 77 | 80 | 81 | 79 | 76 | 73 | 70 | 71 | 77 | 82 | 81 | 77 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 158.1 | 127.0 | 114.7 | 108.0 | 124.0 | 132.0 | 142.6 | 145.7 | 126.0 | 117.8 | 111.0 | 139.5 | 1,546.4 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 5.1 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 4.2 |
| Source: Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Neiva (Julia La), elevation 1,691 m (5,548 ft), (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 22.6 (72.7) |
22.9 (73.2) |
22.7 (72.9) |
22.7 (72.9) |
23.0 (73.4) |
23.2 (73.8) |
23.1 (73.6) |
23.9 (75.0) |
24.0 (75.2) |
23.1 (73.6) |
22.2 (72.0) |
22.3 (72.1) |
23.0 (73.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 18.6 (65.5) |
18.7 (65.7) |
18.6 (65.5) |
18.8 (65.8) |
18.9 (66.0) |
19.0 (66.2) |
18.7 (65.7) |
19.0 (66.2) |
19.1 (66.4) |
18.7 (65.7) |
18.4 (65.1) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.7 (65.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 15.2 (59.4) |
15.2 (59.4) |
15.4 (59.7) |
15.4 (59.7) |
15.3 (59.5) |
15.3 (59.5) |
15.1 (59.2) |
15.3 (59.5) |
15.3 (59.5) |
15.2 (59.4) |
15.1 (59.2) |
15.0 (59.0) |
15.2 (59.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 165.0 (6.50) |
170.7 (6.72) |
212.6 (8.37) |
190.9 (7.52) |
139.0 (5.47) |
65.7 (2.59) |
63.7 (2.51) |
48.8 (1.92) |
92.2 (3.63) |
220.8 (8.69) |
229.1 (9.02) |
168.7 (6.64) |
1,747.5 (68.80) |
| Average precipitation days | 16 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 21 | 19 | 19 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 79 | 79 | 80 | 79 | 78 | 77 | 74 | 73 | 74 | 77 | 80 | 80 | 77 |
| Source: Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales | |||||||||||||
People of Neiva
The people who live in Neiva are called Neivano.
Ethnic Groups in Neiva
According to information from 2018, most people in Neiva are of European descent or have mixed heritage.
- About 98.9% are White or Mestizo (mixed European and Indigenous).
- About 0.3% are Indigenous.
- About 0.8% are Black, Mulatto (mixed Black and White), or Afro-descendant.
Economy of Neiva
Neiva is a hub for many goods in Colombia. It helps distribute products like rice, coffee, beef, milk, and leather. These are all important agricultural products.
Annual Agricultural Fair
Every May, Neiva holds an annual agricultural fair. This fair shows off horses, cattle, and pork from local farms. It also features products from nearby towns.
Fun Things to Do in Neiva (Tourist Attractions)
Neiva has many interesting places to visit. You can explore the city's monuments. Many of these are found along the Magdalena River.
Magdalena River Sanctuary
The local government has built a special sanctuary along the Magdalena River. This area helps protect the river from pollution. Around the sanctuary, you'll find parks and gardens. These spots are popular with both locals and visitors.
Getting to Neiva
You can reach Neiva by road. All major national airlines also fly to Benito Salas Airport. This airport is located right inside the city.
Education in Neiva
Neiva is home to several universities. These schools mainly serve students from Southern Colombia.
Main Universities in Neiva
Some of the most important universities include:
- Universidad Surcolombiana
- Corporación Universitaria del Huila
- Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia
Transportation in Neiva
Air Travel in Neiva
The Benito Salas Airport is located within the city. It is named after Benito Salas Vargas. This airport handles flights to other cities within Colombia.
Culture of Neiva
Neiva is famous for its culture, especially its music and dance. It is known as the capital of the Bambuco dance.
Famous Writers from Neiva
José Eustasio Rivera, who was born in Rivera, is a very famous writer from this area. Many other talented writers have also lived in Neiva.
Festivals and Events in Neiva
Neiva is well-known for its big celebration called the Festival Folclórico y Reinado Nacional del Bambuco. This festival takes place in the last two weeks of June and early July.
During the festival, there are daily parades in the city center. People also perform the Sanjuanero, which is a traditional folk dance. Dancers wear special costumes and compete to be the best at the Sanjuanero choreography.
Sports in Neiva
Soccer is the most popular sport in Neiva today.
Soccer in Neiva
The city is home to the Atlético Huila soccer club. This team plays in the top professional soccer league in Colombia, called the Categoría Primera A. Their games are held at the Guillermo Plazas Alcid Stadium.
Basketball in Neiva
Basketball used to be very popular in Neiva. While its popularity has gone down a bit, games are still played at the Coliseo Álvaro Sánchez Silva court.
Major Sporting Events Hosted by Neiva
Neiva has hosted many important national and international sports events. For example:
- XI National Games of Colombia in 1980
- Juvenile Finswimming World Championship in 2008
- South American Basketball Championship 2010
- FIBA Americas Championship for Women 2011
The city of Neiva was also one of the places that hosted the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup.
Sister Cities of Neiva
Neiva has "sister city" relationships with many cities around the world. This means they share cultural and economic ties.
Kungsbacka, Sweden
Cadiz, Spain
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Los Angeles, United States
Milan, Italy
Bogotá, Colombia
Lyon, France- Malmö, Sweden
- Medellín, Colombia
- Perth, Western Australia
- Leesburg, Florida, United States
Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia
Famous People from Neiva
Many notable people have come from Neiva or the surrounding area.
- Misael Pastrana Borrero, a former president of Colombia.
- Olga Duque de Ospina, a senator and governor of Huila.
- Rodrigo Lara, a lawyer and politician.
- Natalia Valenzuela, a model, presenter, and beauty pageant winner.
- Claudia Bahamón, a model and presenter.
- María Alejandra Salazar, a model and beauty pageant winner.
Images for kids
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Catedral de Neiva
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Government office in Neiva
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Church of St. George in Neiva
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Los Potros, a tribute to José Eustasio Rivera by Rodrigo Arenas Betancur, in Neiva
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Office building in Neiva
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On the main street
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Toma Avenue in downtown Neiva
See also
In Spanish: Neiva para niños
