Riohacha Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Riohacha

District and city

From top to bottom: A view of Riohacha's beachfront, Canyon Park, and a beach.

Flag

Seal

Where Riohacha is located in the Department of La Guajira. The city is marked with a black dot.

Riohacha

Location in Colombia

Country

Colombia

Region

Caribbean

Department

La Guajira

Founded

1545

Founded by

Nikolaus Federmann

Area

• District and city

3,120 km² (1,200 sq mi)

• Urban

25.53 km² (9.86 sq mi)

Elevation

5 m (16 ft)

Population

(2023 Census)

• District and city

222,541

• Density

71.33/km² (184.74/sq mi)

• Urban

126,103

• Urban density

4,939.4/km² (12,793.0/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC-05 (Eastern Time Zone)

Postal code

440001

Area code(s)

57 + 5

Climate

BSh

Website

Official website: http://www.riohacha-laguajira.gov.co/

^*Riohacha metropolitan area is yet to be determined.

Riohacha (pronounced rjo-AH-cha) is a city in northern Colombia. It is located in the Caribbean Region by the mouth of the Ranchería River. The city sits right next to the Caribbean Sea and has beautiful sandy beaches. Riohacha is the capital city of the La Guajira Department.

A German explorer named Nikolaus Federmann founded Riohacha in 1535. The city's name comes from an old local story called "The legend of the Axe." The area around Riohacha is mostly desert-like. This is because of a "rain shadow" created by the tall Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains. Most people living here are Amerindians, especially from the Wayuu group. In the past, Riohacha was a very important port. Many valuable pearls were found in its harbor.

In more recent times, Riohacha has grown into a busy port city in Colombia. It is also a place where many different cultures meet in the La Guajira Department. The city is even mentioned in books by the famous Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature for his amazing stories. Some of his well-known books include One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera.

Understanding the Name Riohacha
- The Legend of the Axe
- Other Names for Riohacha
A Look at Riohacha's History
Culture and Traditions
Getting Around Riohacha
Riohacha's Climate
Notable People from Riohacha
Images for kids
See also

Understanding the Name Riohacha

The name Riohacha has been used since the Spanish first explored and settled the La Guajira area between 1526 and 1536. There are three main ideas about how the city got its name. All of them are linked to exploring a river's mouth in the middle of the La Guajira Peninsula.

The Legend of the Axe

One story says a young local person helped a lost and thirsty Spanish group find the river. As a reward, the Spanish captain gave the person an axe. He then named the place "El Río de La Hacha," which means "The River of the Axe."
Another story tells of the same Spanish captain losing his special axe while crossing the river. To remember it, he named the river "Río de La Hacha."
A third idea is that European explorers found a beautiful axe buried on the riverbank. They thought they were the first to arrive there. So, they called it "Río de la Hacha."

Other Names for Riohacha

In the Wayuunaiki language, Süchiimma means "Land of the River." Süchii means river, and Mma means land. The city also has other nicknames:

Portal de Perlas: This means "Pearl Gateway," referring to its history with pearls.
Capital of the Magical Arreboles: This describes the most beautiful sunsets in the Colombian Caribbean.
Mestiza del Nordeste: This means "Mixed-race of the Northeast." It highlights the city's rich mix of cultures and the trade winds that blow from the northeast.

A Look at Riohacha's History

The Cathedral of Riohacha.

The area where Riohacha is located was home to the Wayuu people for a long time. They are part of the larger Arawak group.

Early European Visits and Founding

In 1498, the Spanish sailor Alonso de Ojeda was the first European to see the area, but he did not land.
Later, another Spanish explorer, Juan de la Cosa, landed at a place now called Cabo de la Vela. This name means "Cape of the Sail" because of its shape.
In 1535, the German explorer Nikolaus Federmann founded a city there. He named it Nuestra Señora Santa Maria de los Remedios del Cabo de la Vela. This means "Our Lady Saint Mary of the Remedies of the Cape of the Sail."

Pearls, Pirates, and Relocation

The Spanish found many pearls in the area. This made the city a target for pirates. After pirates destroyed the first city, the government moved it. They chose a new spot at the mouth of the Ranchería River. This was done to confuse pirates and give the city time to rebuild. The new city was named Nuestra Señora de los Remedios del Río de la Hacha. It grew peacefully for a short time.

However, pirate attacks soon started again. A famous English privateer named Francis Drake led a big attack in 1569. He robbed the city, looking for gold and pearls.

Independence and Modern Times

In the 1700s, Riohacha became part of the Viceroyalty of New Granada. This was a large Spanish territory in South America. During the fight for independence from Spain, Riohacha's port was important. Many ships fighting for Colombian and Venezuelan freedom used it. Many people from Riohacha also joined the navy fighting for independence. One famous hero was Admiral José Prudencio Padilla.

In 1954, Riohacha officially became a municipality (a type of local government area). Then, in 1964, it was named the capital of the new La Guajira Department.

Culture and Traditions

Riohacha celebrates the National Festival of the Dividivi every year. This festival takes place from June 29 to July 1. The last day celebrates the creation of the Department of La Guajira.

Getting Around Riohacha

Riohacha has an airport called the Almirante Padilla Airport. This airport has flights to and from Bogotá, the capital city of Colombia. It also connects to nearby cities like Valledupar and Santa Marta. You can also fly to the Caribbean island of Aruba from here. In 2016, a low-cost airline called Easy Fly started flights between Riohacha and Barranquilla.

Riohacha's Climate

Riohacha has a semi-arid climate. This means it's quite dry. The tall Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains block much of the rain, creating a "rain shadow." Even though it gets some rain, the temperatures are very hot. This makes the area feel like a steppe or dry grassland. Most of the rain falls in May and then again from August to November. For the rest of the year, there are very few rainy days. Despite the lack of rain, the air is usually humid, which can make the heat feel even stronger.