MundoAndino Home : Colombia Guide at Mundo Andino
Arauca Department
Arauca is a department of Colombia located in the extreme north of the Orinoco part of Colombia (the Llanos Oriental), bordering Venezuela. It is bordered to the south by the Casanare River and the Meta River, which separate it from the departments of Casanare and Vichada. To the west borders with the Boyaca Department. The Cano Limon oil fields located in its territory accounts for 30% of Colombian oil output. Its capital is the town of Arauca.
Municipalities
Arauca
Arauquita
Cravo Norte
Fortul
Puerto Rondon
Saravena
Tame
Demographics
Indigenous population
The first conqueror to arrive was Nicholas Araucanian lands Federman in the year 1539, accompanied by George of Speyer, passing through the eastern mountains. In 1659, the mission moved into the forest in tribal lands Guahibos, TuneBase, Aeric and Chirico, where they founded new towns.
In the eighteenth century, being expelled from the Jesuits, being Viceroy Pedro Mesia de la Zerda, were succeeded in their mission of evangelization by the Augustinian Recollect, who founded five centers catechists: Solitude of Cravo, Cuiloto San Javier, San Jose del Ele, Lipa San Joaquin and San Fernando de Arauca.2
In 1810 the Araucanian territory became part of the newly created province of Casanare, in 1819 became part of the department of Cundinamarca, and thereafter, by the year 1857 was annexed to the Sovereign State of Boyaca, later to be so Boyaca department. In 1891 he created the Arauca police station and had the chief executive of General Pedro Leon Acosta. By decree 113 of January 20, 1955, the territory was elevated to national quartermaster, and finally with the Constitution, 5 July 1991 as a department erected along with other municipal and City comisarias.3 Arauca is the regional capital since 1911.4
Political and administrative evolution [edit]
1550: He creates the New Kingdom of Granada.
1810: With the division into new units, the Araucanian territory became part of the province of Casanare.
1818: As President Gen. Fernando Serrano and Santander General Commander of the patriotic forces, Arauca was provisional capital of the Republic.
1819: The province of Casanare became part of the Department of Cundinamarca.
1831: With the dissolution of Gran Colombia, Arauca remains part of the province of Casanare.
1886: With the creation of the Departments, Arauca is part of the Department of Boyaca.
1911: Creation of the Special Commissioner of Arauca, Arauca capital.
1955: The Araucanian territory acquired the status of National Quartermaster.
1960: Boyaca Arauca is secreted, as part of the constituency of Meta.
1963: Install the intendant Council of Arauca.
1991: Under the Constitution, becomes Arauca Department.
Geography [edit]
Its territory covers an area of 23,818 km , predominantly composed of plains.
Ethnography [edit]
Mestizo & White (93.70%)
Black or Afro-Colombians (4.07%)
Amerindian or Indigenous (2.22%)
Roma (0.01%)
Indigenous Population [edit]
The department's total indigenous population amounts to 3591 people. Its territory is located 26 guards in an area of 128,167 hectares. Here are 6 indigenous peoples, with the following people: U'wa, 1,124 members; Betoyes 800; Sikuani, 782; Hitnu, 441; Kuiba, 241; Hitanu, 110; Chiricoa, 63 and Piapoco with 30.
U'wa: The predominant ethnic group in the department. They are located in the north eastern abutment of the Cordillera Oriental, to the Nevado del Cocuy. Its total population is estimated at 7231 people, belong to the Chibcha linguistic family. In 1124 there U'wa Arauca, ie 15%. Its name means "intelligent people who can speak".
Betoyes:: by its people constitute the largest ethnic group in the department. Living on the River Cravo and the municipality of Tame. The area of its territory is 702 hectares. Its population is estimated at 800 people. Their language comes from the Chibcha language family. Although not retain their original language, speak a Betoyes mixed with Spanish, where they remain certain grammatical structures of this.
Guahibos: appellation by which they are known Sikuani, Kuiba, Chiricoa, Hitanu (iguana) and Hitnu (Macaguane), who speak languages Guajiboan.
Economy [edit]
Its economy is based on the oil industry. The soils of the region have shown good conditions for growing cacao, banana, cassava, rice, corn and fruit trees, as well as industrial crops such as African palm, sorghum, soybeans and sesame. Livestock is another important item in the department's economy.
Towns [edit]
Arauca department consists of seven municipalities.
Municipalities Map
Arauca Arauquita Cravo Norte Fortul Puerto Rondon SaravenaTame
References
Supresion de las Zonas de Rehabilitacion by the Association of Campesinos of Arauca, April 30, 2003 in Spanish.
Indigenous people fleeing paramilitary massacre take over church in Saravena by Regional Consul for the Indigenous People of Arauca, May 14, 2003 in Spanish.
Continua la Judicializacion y Muerte a los Dirigentes Sociales de Arauca by Andres Cortes, Jul. 18, 2003 in Spanish.
External links
News and photos of Arauca;
Documentary 52': Le Sang de la terre a video;
Need more information for your travel research or homework?
Ask your questions at the forum about Departments of Colombia or help others to find answers.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Arauca Department
