Palmira, Valle del Cauca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Palmira
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Municipality and city
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Our Lady of the Palmar Cathedral
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Location of the municipality and city of Palmira in the Valle del Cauca Department.
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 Palmira, Valle del Cauca
Location in Colombia
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| Country | Colombia | ||
| Region | Andean Region | ||
| Department | Valle del Cauca* | ||
| Founded | 1824 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Mayor–council | ||
| • Body | Alcaldía de Palmira | ||
| Area | |||
| • Municipality and city | 1,005 km2 (388 sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 24.6 km2 (9.5 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 1,001 m (3,284 ft) | ||
| Population
(2020 est.)
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| • Municipality and city | 354,285 | ||
| • Density | 352.52/km2 (913.0/sq mi) | ||
| • Urban | 279,465 | ||
| • Urban density | 11,360/km2 (29,420/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Palmirano | ||
| Postal code |
76520000
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| Area code(s) | 57 + 2 | ||
| Website | Official website: http://www.palmira.gov.co/ | ||
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Palmira is a lively city and municipality in southwestern Colombia. It's located in the Valle del Cauca Department, about 27 kilometers (17 miles) east of Cali. Cali is the capital city of the department. Palmira is actually the second-largest city in Valle del Cauca, right after Cali.
Contents
Geography and Climate
Palmira is located in southwestern Colombia, within the Cauca River valley. Its coordinates are 3°31’48” north and 76°81’13” west. The city covers an area of about 1,160 square kilometers (448 square miles). Palmira sits at an elevation of about 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level.
Understanding Palmira's Climate
Palmira has a tropical savanna climate, which means it's generally warm all year. It has two dry seasons: one from June to August and another from December to February. The average rainfall is about 900 millimeters (35 inches) near the airport. However, in the higher parts of the municipality, it can receive up to 1,700 millimeters (67 inches) of rain.
| Climate data for Palmira (Palmira Ica), elevation 1,050 m (3,440 ft), (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.6 (85.3) |
29.9 (85.8) |
29.6 (85.3) |
29.3 (84.7) |
29.0 (84.2) |
29.1 (84.4) |
29.9 (85.8) |
30.2 (86.4) |
29.8 (85.6) |
29.0 (84.2) |
28.7 (83.7) |
28.9 (84.0) |
29.4 (84.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 23.6 (74.5) |
23.9 (75.0) |
23.9 (75.0) |
23.6 (74.5) |
23.6 (74.5) |
23.4 (74.1) |
23.8 (74.8) |
24.0 (75.2) |
23.8 (74.8) |
23.3 (73.9) |
23.1 (73.6) |
23.3 (73.9) |
23.6 (74.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 19.1 (66.4) |
19.3 (66.7) |
19.4 (66.9) |
19.5 (67.1) |
19.5 (67.1) |
19.1 (66.4) |
18.8 (65.8) |
18.9 (66.0) |
19.0 (66.2) |
19.0 (66.2) |
19.0 (66.2) |
19.1 (66.4) |
19.1 (66.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 59.0 (2.32) |
74.8 (2.94) |
114.0 (4.49) |
159.0 (6.26) |
110.1 (4.33) |
59.8 (2.35) |
35.2 (1.39) |
39.2 (1.54) |
82.1 (3.23) |
113.2 (4.46) |
133.1 (5.24) |
88.2 (3.47) |
1,067.6 (42.03) |
| Average precipitation days | 9 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 143 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 76 | 75 | 77 | 79 | 79 | 78 | 75 | 73 | 75 | 77 | 79 | 78 | 77 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 167.4 | 149.6 | 142.6 | 132.0 | 133.3 | 141.0 | 173.6 | 173.6 | 147.0 | 145.7 | 144.0 | 161.2 | 1,811 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 5.4 | 5.3 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 5.0 |
| Source: Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales | |||||||||||||
Palmira's Economy and Shopping
Palmira is known as the agricultural capital of Colombia. Its main income comes from farming, especially growing sugar cane. Other important crops include coffee, rice, corn, and tobacco.
Sugar Mills and Agriculture
The city is home to major sugar mills like Manuelita Sugar Mill and Providencia Sugar Mill. These mills process a lot of the sugar cane grown in the area. Sometimes, burning waste cane can cause air pollution in the city.
Shopping Centers in Palmira
In 2005, Palmira got its first big shopping mall, Centro Comercial Llanogrande Plaza. People often called it "La Catorce" because of a department store inside. While that store closed in 2021, the mall is still very popular. It has many restaurants, outdoor bars, a cinema, a casino, and a small amusement park.
Before this mall, people from Palmira often traveled to Cali to shop. In 2014, another large shopping center called “Unicentro Palmira” opened. This gave residents even more shopping options.
Getting Around Palmira
Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport, which serves Cali, is actually located in Palmira. This makes it easy for people to travel by air.
Local Transportation
The most common way people get around Palmira is by motorcycle. There are many motorcycles in the city. Sometimes, motorcycle drivers don't follow traffic rules, so car drivers need to be careful.
In recent years, "mototaxis" have become popular. These are motorcycles that offer rides for a fee, like taxis. This has caused some disagreements between regular taxi drivers and mototaxis. Another unique way to see the city is by taking a ride in a white carriage. These carriages are a charming way for tourists to explore Palmira's old buildings. The city also has a new bus service called TUPAL, which uses buses powered by natural gas.
Education in Palmira
Palmira is often called "The University City" because it has many colleges and universities.
Public Universities
- University of Valle (Univalle) is a major university in southwestern Colombia. It has one of its campuses in Palmira. This campus includes a library, five laboratories for different sciences, an auditorium, and many classrooms with internet access.
- National University of Colombia (Sede Palmira) is a well-known public university in Colombia. It was founded in 1867 and has campuses in several cities, including Palmira. It offers many academic programs and is known for its high quality education and research.
Private Universities
- Pontifical Bolivarian University
- Universidad Antonio Nariño
- University of Santiago de Cali (USC)
- Corporación Universitaria Remington
- Fundación Universitaria San Martín
Sports in Palmira
Palmira has been home to several professional football (soccer) teams. Teams like Expreso Palmira and Palmira F.C. have played in Colombia's second-tier league. Currently, Orsomarso and Internacional F.C. de Palmira represent the city. There's also a futsal team called Club de Palmira Fut-Salón.
Women's Football Success
Women's football has brought a lot of success to Palmira. The local amateur team, Generaciones Palmiranas, is one of the best in the country. Many of its players join the national squad. Orsomarso also has a women's team that plays in the professional league.
Sports Stadiums in Palmira
- Estadio Francisco Rivera Escobar is a stadium in the center of Palmira. It was built in the 1950s and was renovated in 2015. The renovations added new lights and a running track, allowing the city to host athletic events. This stadium is now used by Orsomarso and Internacional F.C. de Palmira for their home matches.
- Estadio Deportivo Cali is a football stadium located just outside Palmira. It is the home stadium for Deportivo Cali, a very successful team in Colombia's top football league. This stadium opened in 2010 and is one of the largest in Colombia. It was also the first stadium in the country owned by a professional football club.
Notable People from Palmira
- Esmeralda Arboleda Cadavid: She was a Colombian politician and made history as the first woman to become a Senator in Colombia.
- Mireya Arboleda: A talented classical pianist and Esmeralda's sister.
- Claudia Palacios: A well-known Colombian journalist and newscaster. She lived in Palmira until she was 15 years old.
- Santiago Eder: An important industrial pioneer from the 19th century. He founded the Manuelita sugar mill.
- Elizabeth Eder de Zobel de Ayala: She is the wife of Filipino billionaire Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala Miranda.
See also
In Spanish: Palmira (Colombia) para niños
