Simijaca facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Simijaca
Municipality and town
Central square of Simijaca
Flag Seal
Location of the municipality and town inside Cundinamarca Department of Colombia
Simijaca Location in Colombia
Country	Colombia
Department	Cundinamarca
Province	Ubaté Province
Founded	14 August 1600
Founded by	Luis Enríquez & Juan López de Linares
Area
• Municipality and town	107 km2 (41 sq mi)
• Urban	0.8 km2 (0.3 sq mi)
Elevation	2,559 m (8,396 ft)
Population  (2015)
• Municipality and town	13,077
• Density	122.2/km2 (316.5/sq mi)
• Urban	7,293
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Website	Official website: http://www.simijaca-cundinamarca.gov.co/

Simijaca (Spanish pronunciation: [simiˈxaka]) is a town and municipality in the Ubaté Province, part of the Cundinamarca Department, Colombia. The town centre is located at an altitude of 2,559 metres (8,396 ft) on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at 136 kilometres (85 mi) from the capital Bogotá. Simijaca borders the Boyacá municipalities Chiquinquirá and Caldas in the north, Susa and Carmen de Carupa in the south, Caldas in the west and San Miguel de Sema in the east.

Etymology

Simijaca means in the Chibcha language of the Muisca "Blue sky" and "Nose of the white owl".

History

The area of Simijaca before the Spanish conquest was part of the Muisca Confederation. Initially loyal to the zaque of Hunza, Simijaca changed rule around 1490 when it was submitted by zipa Saguamanchica.

The first Spanish establishment was done by Rodrigo Mexia Serrano on February 26, 1586. However, this population was ephemeral. And when the oidor (judge) Luis Enrique did a visitation, in July 1600, the natives had not populated the town and the entrusted had not built the church. By act on August 14, 1600, carried out by Luis Enríquez & Juan López de Linares in Cucunubá, the new and actual town of Simijaca was established. It was formed by indigenous people from Simijaca, Fúquene and Nemoguá.

Economy

Main economical activity in Simijaca is agriculture with products onions, beans, maize, potatoes, milk and peas as most important agricultural products.

Geology

The Upper Cretaceous Simijaca Formation is named after Simijaca.

Communications

Simijaca has its own TV Station, ACOTV, which is available through analogue cable.

The High School, IED Agustín Parra, has an FM radio station on 97.7 MHz that is also available online. The (SHOUTcast) stream's URL is http://46.105.115.146:8286/

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