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Vichada Department
Vichada is a department of the Republic of Colombia in South America. Vichada is located in the eastern plains of Colombia, in the Orinoquia region within the Orinoco river basin bordering the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the north and east. To the north the department of Vichada also borders to the north with the department of Arauca, to the northwest with the department of Casanare, to the west with the department of Meta, to the southwest narrowly bordering with the department of Guaviare and to the south with the department of Guainia. The department is the second largest in Colombia and scarcely populated in comparison to other departments.
The department of Vichada was previously a commissary established in 1913.
The largest town and capital of the department is Puerto Carreno located in extreme northeastern part of the department and bordering Venezuela. the department is subdivided into four municipalities; Puerto Carreno, La Primavera, Santa Rosalia and Cumaribo. It also contains 46 indigenous reserves and 6 communities.
Geography
The Department of Vichada is located on the eastern plains of Colombia known colloquially as the Llanos. The department of Vichada limits to the north with the Department of Arauca and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; to the east with Venezuela; to the south with the Department of Guainia and the Department of Guaviare; and to the west with the Department of Meta and the Department of Casanare.
The department is located to the left margin of the Orinoco River and the right margin of the Meta River within the plains of los Llanos. Part of the department lies on the Guiana Shield. Soil lacks sediments due to the lack of alluvions from rivers coming from the Andes mountains.
Climate in the Department of Vichada is predominantly hot and humid with an average temperature of through out the year.
History
In 1913 the government of Colombia created the commissary of Vichada and the capital was established in a locality known as El Picacho between the Meta and Orinoco rivers. The town was named Puerto Carreno in honor of Pedro Maria Carreno, then acting Minister of Government.
In August 1974, Puerto Carreno was elevated to the category of municipality by decree 1594 of that same year.
On July 5, 1991 Vichada was elevated to the category of department and Puerto Carreno as its capital.
Politics
Municipalities
Cumaribo
La Primavera
Puerto Carreno
Santa Rosalia
References
Revista Semana; Sera Vichada la tierra prometida?
External links
Government of Vichada official website
Territorial-Environmental Information System of Colombian Amazon SIAT-AC website
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Vichada Department
