Motavita is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá, part of the subregion of the Central Boyacá Province. It covers approximately 62 square kilometres (24 sq mi).[1]
Motavita | |
|---|---|
Municipality and town | |
 Central square of Motavita | |
.svg) Flag  Seal | |
 Location of the municipality and town of Motavita in the Boyacá Department of Colombia | |
| Coordinates: 05°34′38″N 073°22′02″W / 5.57722°N 73.36722°W | |
| Country |  Colombia |
| Department | Boyacá Department |
| Province | Central Boyacá Province |
| Founded | 23 December 1816 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mery Mozo Fonseca (2020-2023) |
| Area | |
| • Municipality and town | 62 km2 (24 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,690 m (8,830 ft) |
| Population (2015) | |
| • Municipality and town | 8,067 |
| • Urban | 881 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time) |
| Website | Official website |
Etymology edit
The name Motavita comes from the Chibcha language and means "washing place to prepare for growing crops", indicating a ceremonial use.[2]
Geography edit
Motavita is bordered to the north by Arcabuco and Cómbita, to the east and south by Tunja, and to the west by Sora and Chíquiza.[3]
History edit
In the time before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca, Motavita was inhabited by the Muisca, organised in their loose Muisca Confederation. Motavita was an important settlement in the coca trade with surrounding indigenous groups, such as the Muzo people who populated the western parts of Boyacá. Motavita was ruled by the zaque of nearby Hunza. Conquistador Hernán Pérez de Quesada, brother of Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, reached Motavita in 1540.[1] In 1776 the first evangelisation of the Catholic Church was established by friar Juan Pérez.[1] Modern Motavita was founded on 23 December 1816 and its first mayor was Marino Monrroy.[1]
Divisions edit
Motavita was divided into five cadastral vereda (townships): Centro, Carbonera, Ristá, Salvial and Sote Panelas; however, Sote Panelas had four more veredas split off from it, namely: Frutillal, Versalles, Quebrada Honda and Barro Hondo, thus making nine vereda.[4]
Born in Motavita edit
- Jefferson Vargas, professional cyclist
References edit
- ^ a b c d (in Spanish) Official website Motavita Archived 2014-03-10 at archive.today
- ^ López, Javier Ocampo (2001). El imaginario en Boyacá: la identidad del pueblo boyacense y su proyección en la simbología regional (Volume 2: El imaginario colectivo en los pensadores boyacenses). Bogotá, Colombia: Universidad Distrital "Francisco José de Caldas". p. 84. ISBN 978-958-9160-90-9.
- ^ "Motavita: Generalidades: 1.2 Limites (Motavita: Overview: 1.2 Borders)" (PDF) (in Spanish). Government of Boyacá. p. 1.
- ^ "Motavita: Generalidades: 1.3 División Política (Veredas)" (PDF) (in Spanish). Government of Boyacá. p. 4.