La Guajira Department

The Departamento de La Guajira is a province in the far north- eastern Colombia. It is bordered to the west, north and east by the Atlantic Ocean. To the southeast lies Venezuela, the south, the province of Cesar and the southwest of the province of Magdalena.

In the arid province of little agricultural activity. There are cultivated rice, yuca, sorghum and sesame. The industry plays a subordinate role. On mineral resources Coal and natural gas are worth mentioning. With El Cerrejón La Guajira has the largest coal mine in Latin America. Fishing and salt works on the coast are less important.

Geography

The province lies to the east or north-east of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast. The after end of the eastern foothills mostly flat topography is crossed by numerous short, but overflowing rivers. The northern part of the province on the Guajira Peninsula has an arid climate; in the northwest corner is located in the region of Cabo de la Vela even a real desert.

The flat and arid regions of the province are often affected by floods. During the rainy season, large areas of land are often completely flooded.

The eponymous peninsula that makes up a major part of the area of the province, is a small part on Venezuelan territory.

On the territory of the Province There are currently three National Parks: The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta ( 383,000 ha) with the highest mountains of Colombia, the Santuario de Fauna y Flora Los Flamenco ( 7682 ha), one of the world's most impressive habitats of red flamingos, as well as the National Park Macuira ( 25,000 ha ), a montane rain forest in virtually uninhabited northeast of the province.

History

The name " La Guajira " is derived from the proper name of one of the living there Amerindian ethnic groups, the people of the Wayúu. In addition to the Arhuacos the Wayúu formed the population of the region before the arrival of the Spaniards. The exposed location directly on the Caribbean coast of the province was discovered very early European or developed. Dia capital Riohacha is one of the earliest Spanish towns founded on the South American mainland.

1498 orbited de expedition of Alonso de Ojeda the Guajira Peninsula; a first landing was made by Juan de la Cosa, thereby forming a first settlement at Cabo de la Vela was founded; 1535 then saw the establishment of the later capital Riohacha by the Commissioner of Welser in Latin America, Nicholas spring man.

The Spanish arrived in the territory of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta on the high culture of the Tairona. The so-called Ciudad Perdida is one of the most important archaeological open-air monuments in South America, Machu Picchu or comparable to the extensive ruins of Chan Chan.

Colonization

The province has in addition to the capital Riohacha just another large city, which lies along the Venezuelan border Maicao.

Otherwise, the population structure is very rural. On the Caribbean coast fishing villages determine the image in the interior, there are numerous individual farms or buildings.

Considerable importance has within the province of the Indian population minority whose number richest tribe are the Wayúu.

Administrative subdivision

The Departamento de la Guajira consists of 15 municipalities ( Municipio). Below are listed all four communities with their total population from the census of the Colombian Bureau of Statistics DANE from the year 2005.

Infrastructure

The road network of the province is well developed. The two main roads, the streets of Santa Marta and Valledupar are paved and in good condition. Of particular economic importance of the border crossing is Maicao with road connection to Venezuela.

Riohacha has a regional airport.

The freight rail line from El Cerrejón transported almost exclusively pumped there coal.

Economy

The location right on the Caribbean coast determined to a large extent the economic development of the province. Fisheries, especially shrimp fishery, provides a livelihood for the majority of the coastal population in rural areas. There is also an extensive extensive livestock farming, but due to the dryness of the climate in many parts of La Guajira is less efficient than in other regions of Colombia.

At the foot of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, there are large banana plantations.

With El Cerrejón the province has the largest coal mine in South America. The only real working railway line in the country runs from the location of the pit to the provincial capital Riohacha. Rich natural gas fields, which are exploited for several years, contribute to value creation in the province significantly. Riohacha has a natural gas terminal.

Overall, the province is poor for Colombian relations. The significant revenue from marijuana cultivation, which caused in the 90s for an economic boom, have proved to be unsustainable.

Due to its close proximity to Venezuela, a true illegal but widely tolerated underground economy has developed. Be imported to Colombia via the border crossing Maicao especially oil derivatives (gasoline ) and household electronics.

11.85 - 72.033333333333Koordinaten: 12 ° N, 72 ° W

Colombian Departamento
La Guajira

Governor Municipality Cesar Department Desert climate Arhuaco people Nikolaus Federmann Fisherman Departments of Colombia

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