Nemocón facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nemocón
Street in Nemocón
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Location of the town and municipality of Nemocón in the Cundinamarca Department
Nemocón Location in Colombia
Country	Colombia
Departamento	Cundinamarca
Province	Central Savanna Province
Founded	26 July 1600
Founded by	Luis Henríquez
Area
• City	98.1 km2 (37.9 sq mi)
• Urban	0.61 km2 (0.24 sq mi)
Elevation	2,585 m (8,481 ft)
Population  (2015)
• City	13,488
• Density	137.49/km2 (356.10/sq mi)
• Urban	5,684
Demonym(s)	Nemoconense
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Area code(s)	+1
Website	Official website: http://www.nemocon-cundinamarca.gov.co/

Nemocón is a town and municipality in Colombia. It is located in the Cundinamarca Department. Nemocón is very famous for its amazing salt mine.

Long ago, Nemocón was an important village for the Muisca people. They lived in the central Colombian Andes mountains. The town is high up, about 2,585 meters (8,481 feet) above sea level. It is also about 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Bogotá, the capital city. The Bogotá River starts near Nemocón. The average temperature in Nemocón is about 12.8°C (55°F).

Nemocón shares borders with several other towns. To the north is Tausa, and to the east are Suesca and Gachancipá. To the south are Tocancipá and Zipaquirá. To the west are the Checua and Neusa rivers and the town of Cogua.

What Does Nemocón Mean?

The name Nemocón comes from the old Chibcha language. It means "The cry or sadness of the warrior." Some people also think the town might be named after a Muisca leader called zipa Nemequene.

Nemocón's Long History

Early Times

Scientists have found old tools and food remains in Nemocón. These show that people lived here a very long time ago. They were hunter-gatherers. This means they hunted animals like deer and foxes and gathered plants for food. They lived in rock shelters, like caves.

The Herrera Period

Checua Site

About 7 kilometers (4 miles) north of Nemocón is an important place called Checua. Scientists found evidence here from around 6500 BCE. This shows that people lived in the area even earlier.

Later, during the Herrera Period, people in Nemocón continued to hunt. They ate animals like deer, guinea pigs, and rabbits. They also started making pottery around 400 BC. This pottery shows that Nemocón was already important for getting salt from the ground.

The Muisca People

After the Herrera Period, the Muisca became a strong civilization. They were known as the "Salt People" because they were very good at trading salt. They got salt from places like Nemocón and Zipaquirá. The Muisca women would get the salt from salty water using large pots. They used this salt to dry and keep their fish and meat fresh.

Spanish Colonial Times

When the Spanish arrived, they continued to use the salt mines. The Muisca people who survived had to work in these mines.

Modern Nemocón was officially started on July 26, 1600. A man named Luis Henríquez founded it. By 1614, people in Nemocón were also growing wheat successfully.

Nemocón Today

Today, Nemocón still gets salt from its mines. But the town's economy has grown. People now also grow beautiful flowers and mine kaolin, which is a type of clay.

Fun Things to Do in Nemocón

Nemocón is a popular place for tourists. Many people visit its famous salt mine and museum. You can even take a train from Bogotá to get there! The salt mine in Nemocón is the second largest in Colombia. The biggest one is the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá in the nearby town of Zipaquirá. Sundays are busy in Nemocón because it's market day.

Festivals in Nemocón

Nemocón has several fun festivals throughout the year:

• Festival del floricultor: This celebrates flower growers.
• September: Festival de Danzas: A dance festival.
• December: Festival del macramé: This festival celebrates macramé, a type of knot-tying art. There are also beautiful Christmas lights.

Famous People from Nemocón

Some notable people were born in Nemocón:

• Ricardo Moros Urbina: A painter from the 19th century.
• Miguel Gutiérrez Nieto: A mayor of Bogotá in the 19th century.
• Eustacio Sanz de Santamaría: A diplomat and writer.
• Felipa Molina Morales and Antonio de Luna: Leaders of a commoners' revolution.
• Luis Antonio Orjuela Quintero: A historian and educator.
• Manuel Medardo Espinosa: A romantic poet.
• Julio Rubiano: A former professional cyclist.

Cool Facts About Nemocón

• Scientists found the bones of a mastodont (a huge, ancient elephant-like animal) in Nemocón.
• Parts of the movie The 33 were filmed inside the salt mine of Nemocón. This movie is about a group of miners trapped underground.
• The TV show The Amazing Race 32 had a challenge in Nemocón. Teams had to visit the salt mine and the San Francisco de Asís Church.

Climate

Nemocón has a cool climate because it is high in the mountains. The average temperature is around 14°C (57°F). It gets some rain throughout the year, with more rain in April and May. The sunniest months are usually January and July.

Images for kids

Panorama of the central square of Nemocón

See also

In Spanish: Nemocón para niños