Yotoco facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yotoco
Municipality and town
Flag
Location of the municipality and town of Yotoco in the Valle del Cauca Department of Colombia.
Country	Colombia
Department	Valle del Cauca Department
Area
• Total	321 km2 (124 sq mi)
Population  (2015)
• Total	16,263
• Density	50.66/km2 (131.22/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)

Yotoco is a town and a municipality in the Valle del Cauca Department of Colombia. It is known as the "King of the Winds." In 2015, about 16,263 people lived there.

History of Yotoco

Yotoco is in the central part of the Valle del Cauca region. It was founded in 1622 next to the river that shares its name. The town is about 75 kilometers (47 miles) from Cali.

Important places in Yotoco include the Hato Viejo farm, which became a national monument in 1996. The Sonso Lagoon is also a famous spot.

Historians believe that the Yotoco area was home to the Frelones Indians when Spanish explorers arrived. Captain Diego Rengifo Salazar founded the town in 1622. Legend says that a chief named Yotoco ruled this area. The name "Yotat" means "blowgun," suggesting the people lived near blowgun territory.

Yotoco became a small church area in 1777. It was called a village in 1858. In 1864, it became a district named "Sucre" until 1868. Over the years, Yotoco was part of Buga and then Cali. Finally, in 1912, it gained its independence and became the Municipality of Yotoco.

Geography of Yotoco

The land in Yotoco has two main parts. One part is flat and belongs to the Cauca River Valley. The other part is mountainous, on the western side. This mountain area is part of the eastern slopes of the "Cordillera Occidental" mountain range.

Some of the highest points include Altos Heart, The Garden, Guacas, and Sugar Loaf. The land has different climates, from hot to medium and cold. Rivers like the Cauca River, Mediacanoa, and Yotoco flow through the area. Many smaller streams also cross the land.

Neighboring Areas and Distances

Yotoco shares borders with several other municipalities:

• To the north: Riofrío
• To the east: San Pedro, Buga, and Guacarí
• To the south: Vijes
• To the west: Calima-Darién and Restrepo

Yotoco is about 75 km (47 miles) from Cali. It is also about 115 km (71 miles) from Buenaventura. Buga is much closer, only about 12 km (7.5 miles) away.

Economy of Yotoco

The main way people make a living in Yotoco is through farming. They grow crops like coffee, pineapple, avocado, plantain, tomato, beans, and sugar cane.

Other important activities include:

• Raising hogs (pigs)
• Raising poultry (chickens)
• Raising cattle (cows)
• Mining for rock and sand

Yotoco is located on a main road that leads to Calima Lake and Buenaventura's port. Because of this, many hotels and restaurants are found along the route. These businesses create many jobs for the people of Yotoco.

Culture of Yotoco

Yotoco has strong roots in peasant culture. People often celebrate religious holidays throughout the year. You can find many festivals and celebrations in the rural areas at different times.

Yotoco is special because it has one of only three music schools in Colombia. This school is called "Rey de los Vientos" (King of the Winds). It helps young people learn music.

There is also a Cultural House called "Herminio Salguero." This house helps publish books written by students and teachers from local schools. One book is called Cuenta cuentos que yo me invento (Storyteller, I Invent). Another book, Cruce de Miradas (Crossing Glances), has pictures, poems, and stories from the people of Yotoco.

The "Alejandro Arce Library" is also in Yotoco. It was opened by the Culture Ministers in 2008 and 2015. The historic Hato Viejo Farm is a cultural landmark. It has old colonial buildings and a huge ceiba tree that is about 600 years old. These places add to the beauty of Yotoco.

The Chiquique wetland is important for fishing. Traditional fish like bocachico, corroncho, and mojarra are caught here. These fish have fed local families for many years.

Tourism in Yotoco

Yotoco is a growing place for tourism. Local groups and organizations work to make tourism good for the environment. They try to reduce any negative effects that tourism might have.

EcoTourism

The Hacienda Hato Viejo is a beautiful farm located on the road to Vijes. It was named a National Monument of Colombia in 1996. The main house and chapel are about 350 years old. In the 1700s, this farm was very important. It provided food and sugar products for mines. It also helped people settle and build the region now known as "Valle del Cauca."

Laguna de El Sonso (Chircal)

This lake is a nature reserve since 1987. It covers 2,045 hectares (about 5,050 acres) and is located near Guacarí, Buga, and Yotoco. It is one of the most important wetlands in the Cauca River system. It's a great place for:

• Bird watching
• Environmental education
• Sightseeing
• Research

You can see many birds here, like swamp vultures and osprey. Mammals like the common possum and capybara also live here. Common fish include bocachico and chamburos. Many types of plants, like rushes, grow in the wetland. Some plants provide shelter and food for animals. The reserve helps control the Cauca River's water levels. It also provides fish for local families.

Recreational Tourism

Yotoco has many places for fishing and enjoying nature:

• Escondite and Picapiedra Lake (on the road to Buga)
• Colombia Lake (on the Panorama route)
• Chiquique Wetlands
• Dopo's Stone (in Dopo Town, with great views)
• Natural Reserved Park (on the road to Buenaventura)

Cultural Tourism Sites

• Hacienda Hato Viejo (between Yotoco and Vijes)
• Boyaca Central Park
• Valle del Dorado

Gastronomic Tourism

• Along the road from Taipa to Rancho Rojo, you can find many restaurants. They offer typical dishes from the region.
• At the Puente Tierra truck stop (on the road to Buenaventura), you can try famous sausages and fried foods. These are known across the country.

See also

In Spanish: Yotoco para niños