Ráquira Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Ráquira

Municipality and town

Church of Ráquira

Flag

Location of the municipality and town of Ráquira in the Boyacá Department of Colombia

Country

Colombia

Department

Boyacá Department

Province

Ricaurte Province

Founded

18 October 1580

Founded by

Francisco de Orejuela

Area

• Municipality and town

233 km² (90 sq mi)

Elevation

2,150 m (7,050 ft)

Population

(2015)

• Municipality and town

13,588

• Density

58.32/km² (151.0/sq mi)

• Urban

3,425

Time zone

UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)

Website

Official website: http://www.raquira-boyaca.gov.co/

Ráquira, is a municipality and town in Boyacá Department, Colombia, part of the subregion of the Ricaurte Province. Ráquira is situated on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense and the urban center at an altitude of 2,150 metres (7,050 ft). It borders Tinjacá and Sutamarchán in the north, Guachetá, Cundinamarca in the south, in the east Sáchica and Samacá and in the west San Miguel de Sema and Lake Fúquene.

Etymology
History
Economy
Tourism
Gallery
See also

Etymology

In Chibcha, Ráquira means "Village of the pans".

History

The area of Ráquira was inhabited by the Muisca in the centuries before the Spanish conquest of the central highlands of the Colombian Andes. Already in those times Ráquira was famous for its ceramics due to the clay of the area.

In March 1537 conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada crossed the valley around Ráquira. Modern Ráquira was founded on October 18, 1580 by friar Francisco de Orejuela.

Economy

About three quarters of the economy of Ráquira is centered on the handcrafts. Other economical activities are agriculture, livestock farming and mining.

Tourism

Ráquira is famous in Colombia for its colony of artisans, who produce traditional northern Andean pottery & hand-woven goods. The Sunday market is especially a popular time to visit. Ráquira is also known for its colorful houses that contrast with the famous nearby town of Villa de Leyva.