Vigía del Fuerte facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vigía del Fuerte
Municipality and town
Flag
Motto(s):  "Ethnia, Pluralidad, Libertad"
Location of the municipality and town in the Antioquia Department of Colombia
Vigía del Fuerte Location in Colombia
Country	Colombia
Department	Antioquia Department
Subregion	Urabá
Area
• Municipality and town	1,801 km2 (695 sq mi)
• Urban	2 km2 (0.8 sq mi)
Elevation	12 m (39 ft)
Population  (2020)
• Municipality and town	5,624
• Urban	2,106
	Projections based on 2005 estimations by DANE - Government of Colombia
Demonym(s)	Vigideño/ Vigideña
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)

Vigía del Fuerte is a town and municipality in the country of Colombia. It is located in the Antioquia region. The town is part of the Urabá Antioquia area.

Vigía del Fuerte sits on the east side of the Atrato River. This river forms the border between the Antioquia and Chocó Departments. The town is close to Bellavista. Vigía del Fuerte played an important role during the Bojayá massacre in 2002. It suffered losses and welcomed people who were escaping the conflict.

Life in Vigía del Fuerte Town

Many buildings and roads in Vigía del Fuerte are built on tall poles. This is because the ground is often wet and the area floods a lot. The town can only be reached by river. Boats connect it to nearby towns and to Quibdó, the capital of the Chocó Department.

Travel and Transport

The town has a small airport called Vigía del Fuerte Airstrip. Small propeller planes fly there almost every day. These flights connect Vigía del Fuerte to Medellin.

Education Opportunities

Vigía del Fuerte has two colleges. One college serves all students from the town and nearby villages. The other is called Institución Educativa Embera Atrato Medio. This college is for the Embera people who live in the region. It offers a place to live for some students. Nuns from the Misioneras de la Madre Laura group mainly run this college.

History of Conflict

Vigía del Fuerte has experienced difficult times due to armed conflict.

Events in 2000

On March 25, 2000, about 300 members of a group called the FARC-EP took control of the town. They attacked a building used by another group, the AUC, and the police station. The FARC-EP used a large, homemade explosive device against the police station. This explosion destroyed the police station and badly damaged the nearby church. All 22 police officers at the station died. About 9 civilians also lost their lives. The town's mayor was among those who died.

Events in 2002 and 2013

Two men were killed on May 1, 2002, just before the Bojayá Massacre. On May 4, three more men were killed by the FARC. They were accused of stealing gasoline for another group. All five of these men are buried with the victims of the May 2 massacre in Bojayá.

On October 11, 2013, rebels believed to be from the FARC attacked the town's airport. They destroyed an aircraft during this attack.

Ongoing Challenges

Even after the 2002 Bojayá massacre and the 2016 peace deal, fighting and people being forced to leave their homes have continued. Many people from the region have had to move. Some have settled in Vigía del Fuerte or nearby Bellavista and Quibdó. Others have left the Chocó region entirely.

Climate and Weather

Vigía del Fuerte has a very wet tropical rainforest climate. This means it is hot and rainy all year round.

Images for kids

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  The Catholic Church in Vigía del Fuerte

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  A street view of Vigía del Fuerte

See also

In Spanish: Vigía del Fuerte para niños