Riosucio, Chocó facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Riosucio
Municipality and town
Flag Seal
Location of the municipality and town of Riosucio in the Chocó Department of Colombia.
Country	Colombia
Department	Chocó Department
Founded	1518
Area
• Municipality and town	5,818.5 km2 (2,246.5 sq mi)
Elevation	8 m (26.3 ft)
Population  (2015)
• Municipality and town	28,832
• Density	4.95/km2 (12.83/sq mi)
• Metro	8,458
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)

Riosucio (pronounced ryo-SOO-syo) is a town and a larger area called a municipality in the Chocó Department of Colombia. It is located near the Atrato River in a region known as Urabá, which spans parts of the Chocó and Antioquia departments.

Riosucio is not directly on the coast. It is separated from the Pacific Ocean by other towns and from the Gulf of Urabá (a large bay of the Caribbean Sea) by nearby areas. The town of Riosucio is mostly reached by river, as there are not many roads or an airport. The river is the main way people travel in and out of the town.

History of Riosucio

Before the Spanish arrived in the area now known as Chocó, it was home to indigenous groups like the Emberá and Katío. Spanish explorers first came in 1501.

While there is no exact date, Riosucio was likely founded between 1518 and 1524. This happened after Vasco Núñez de Balboa's second trip to the Atrato River. The local people managed to keep the Spanish away for a long time. However, by the 1700s, the area became important for trade, and colonizers became interested again.

The town and municipality are named Riosucio, which means "Dirty River" in English. This name comes from a river that flows into the Atrato River. A Spaniard named Domingo Bailon founded the town.

In 1996, there was a difficult time for the town. Many people had to leave their homes and move to bigger cities. This happened after a law was passed that gave land rights to the people living in Riosucio and nearby towns.

Geography and Location

Riosucio municipality is located in the northern part of the Chocó department. It shares a border with the country of Panamá to the northwest. It also borders several Colombian municipalities: Unguía, Turbo, Mutatá, Dabeiba, Carmen del Darien, Bahía Solano, and Juradó.

The area is very forested and is crossed by the Atrato River. This is one of Colombia's most important rivers. Other rivers like Rio Sucio, Salaquí, and Truandó also flow into the Atrato here.

Even though there is a forest road connecting Riosucio to other towns, it is not well developed. The Atrato River is the main way to travel. You can go south (upriver) to Quibdó, the capital of the department. You can also go north (downriver) to the Gulf of Urabá and the port of Turbo.

Climate in Riosucio

Riosucio has a tropical monsoon climate. This means it gets a lot of rain almost every month, especially from April to December. January and February are the driest months. The temperature stays warm and steady throughout the year.

Economy and Resources

Riosucio is in a forest region, so its economy relies on using wood from the forests. People also work in agriculture, growing crops, and raising cattle. One of the main products grown in the area is the African palm.

While tourism is not very developed due to a lack of facilities, there are interesting places for visitors:

• Los Katíos National Park: This park is shared with Panamá. It was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994. The park protects amazing plants and animals, and it also helps preserve the ancient culture of the Katío and other indigenous peoples.
• Local Communities: The Afro-American and indigenous communities living near the rivers and sea have unique traditions. Their way of life and the natural beauty around them can be very interesting for visitors.

Culture and Traditions

The region of Riosucio is mainly home to Afro-Colombian communities and indigenous groups like the Katíos and Emberás. Their culture is rich and can be seen in their food, celebrations, religious beliefs, and daily traditions.

The main language spoken is Spanish. However, many indigenous groups also speak their own languages. Afro-Colombian communities have kept many words and phrases from African languages. They have also adopted words from indigenous languages.

The culture of Riosucio is strongly connected to the river. The music and dances in the region show influences from both African and indigenous cultures.

Some of the main celebrations in Riosucio include:

• The Sweet Festival during Holy Week.
• The feast of Saint Isidore the Laborer in May.
• The Carnival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel from July 6th to 16th.

Notable People

• Luis Enrique Mena (born 1992), a Colombian footballer.

Images for kids

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  Flag of Riosucio

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  Coat of arms of Riosucio

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  Map showing Riosucio in Chocó Department

See also

In Spanish: Riosucio (Chocó) para niños