Department of Tolima
Encyclopedia
Tolima is one of the 32 departments of Colombia
, located in the Andean region, in the center-west of the country. It is bordered on the north and the west by the department of Caldas; on the east by the department of Cundinamarca
; on the south by the department of Huila
, and on the west by the departments of Cauca
, Valle del Cauca, Quindío and Risaralda
. Tolima has a surface area of 23,562 km², and its capital is Ibagué
. The department of Tolima was created in 1861 from a part of what was previously Cundinamarca
.
people lived in Tolima during pre-Columbian times. The name of the department comes from the Pijao word for "snowed". The Panches, from the Pijao liguistic family, were also settled here, reaching the region beyond the Magdalena valleys. Renowned as fierce warriors, the Panches are widely known for fighting the Muisca
over the control of emerald
mining territories. They fought against a Spanish-Muisca coalition and were ultimately defeated in the Battle of Tocarema in 1537.
travelling from the city of Cali to be with his colleague, Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada
, in Bogota. On its way, Belarcázar founded the settlement that would become eventually become known as Ibagué. Belarcázar traveled until he reached the site of Flandes
in Tolima before arriving at Bogota. The definitive foundation began with Captain Andrés Lopez de Galarza who founded the city of Ibagué and the site on which the municipality of Cajamarca
would be based, in the west of the department. These two cities would become an important part of the "coffee axis".
, of which the main rivers of the Tolima are tributary. Other rivers are the Saldaña river, the Cabrera, Coello, the Tetuán, the Gualí, the Rio Recio, and the Rio Prado. The Rio Prado dam is found on the river of the same name. This is the largest fresh water lake in central Colombia and is also an important tourist attraction.
until his death in November 2011.
The economy of the Tolima is based on agriculture.
Industry in Tolima, as has been happening to the whole country, has been declining in its proportion of GDP, while services gain more importance, a phenomenon known as deindustrialization. Within the sector services Tolima excels in commerce, public administration, other services to the community and "reparaciones", which contribute respectively 11.2% and 9.1% of the GDP.
The GDP per inhabitant in Tolima, registered during 2002 a reduction of 0.4% in constant prices.
According to the results of the DANE census, the department of Tolima registered between the years of 2001 and 2002 a diminution, to constant prices, of 0.1% in its GDP, falling from Col$2.05 trillion in 2001 to Col$2.04 trillion in 2002. The result is explained by the fact that traditional sectors within the economic structure of the department such as the coffee registered a reduction of 22.4%, reducing 2 percentage points to the total variation, and others did not have important growth or presented/displayed diminutions in its added values. So it is the case of the activity branches: transport, commerce and repairs, industry and electricity gas and water, which jointly reduced 1.7 percentage points to the variation, whereas other services, rights and taxes, construction and farming rest, forestry and 3.6 percentage points fish were the branches with greater positive contribution to the variation of the GDP when contributing.
Music is the distinguishing cultural expression of Tolima. Its capital, Ibagué, is well-known as "the musical city of Colombia", and is home to one of the nation's classic conservatoriums. The department also is famous for the Fiestas of San Pedro in Espinal
, San Juan in Natagaima
and in Ibagué, the Colombian Folkloric Festival and the "Concurso de Duetos Garzón y Collazos."
Tolima has produced many writers: Arturo Camacho Ramíez, Juan Lozano y Lozano, Diego Fallon, William Ospina, James Cañón
, Martín Pomala, Luz Stella; painters: Darío Jiménez, Jorge Elías Triana, Darío Ortiz Robledo, Carlos Granada, Julio Fajardo; historians Eduardo Santa, Gonzalo Sanchez, Hermes Tovar Pinzón, Hernán Clavijo, Darío Ortiz Vidales.
The department is also widely recognised for its distinctive cuisine. Famous regional dishes include the Tamal Tolimense, a corn-and-yellow pea-based paste with pork, egg, chicken and vegetable filling, wrapped inside a plantain leaf; the Lechona
, a yellow pea-and-meat-stuffed pork; Empanadas, small potato, rice and meat stuffed pastries, made with corn dough; Achiras (although not exclusively from this department) and Bizcocho calentano, smaller flour pastries; and Quesillo
, a type of cheese wrapped in a plantain leaf. Drinks include the Avena, a cold oatmeal-based drink.
Tolima gave to the country ten presidents: Domingo Caycedo
, José María Melo
, Manuel Murillo Toro
, José María Rojas Garrido
, Miguel Abadía Méndez
, Alfonso López Michelsen
, Darío Echandía
, Carlos Lozano y Lozano, Gabriel París, and Deogracias Fonseca.
Departments of Colombia
Colombia is an unitary republic formed by thirty-two departments and a Capital District . Each department has a Governor and a Department Assembly , elected by popular vote for a four-year period. The governor cannot be re-elected in consecutive periods...
, located in the Andean region, in the center-west of the country. It is bordered on the north and the west by the department of Caldas; on the east by the department of Cundinamarca
Cundinamarca Department
- Origin of the name :The name of Cundinamarca comes from Kundur marqa, an indigenous expression, probably derived from Quechua. Meaning "Condor's Nest", it was used in pre-Columbian times by the natives of the Magdalena Valley to refer to the nearby highlands....
; on the south by the department of Huila
Huila Department
Huila is one of the departments of Colombia. It is located in the southwest of the country, and its capital is Neiva.-Geography:The south of the department is located in the Colombian Massif...
, and on the west by the departments of Cauca
Cauca Department
Cauca is a Department of Colombia. Located in the south-western part of the country, facing the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Valle del Cauca Department to the north, Tolima Department to the northeast, Huila Department to the east and the Nariño Department to the south, covering a total area of...
, Valle del Cauca, Quindío and Risaralda
Risaralda Department
Risaralda is a department of Colombia. It is located in the western central region of the country and part of the Paisa Region. Its capital is Pereira.It was divided from the department of Caldas in 1966...
. Tolima has a surface area of 23,562 km², and its capital is Ibagué
Ibagué
Ibagué is the capital of the department of Tolima in Colombia. It is situated 1,285 m above sea level, on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Central between the Chipalo and Combeima rivers, tributaries of the Coello River...
. The department of Tolima was created in 1861 from a part of what was previously Cundinamarca
Cundinamarca Department (1820)
Cundinamarca Department was one of the three departments of Gran Colombia until 1824.In the South-West it bordered Quito Department, in the East Venezuela Department...
.
Indigenous civilization
The PijaoPijao
The Pijao are an indigenous people of Colombia.-Ethnography:The Pijao or Pijaos were a loose federation of Amerindians living in the region of Tolima -Colombia and other territories...
people lived in Tolima during pre-Columbian times. The name of the department comes from the Pijao word for "snowed". The Panches, from the Pijao liguistic family, were also settled here, reaching the region beyond the Magdalena valleys. Renowned as fierce warriors, the Panches are widely known for fighting the Muisca
Muisca
Muisca was the Chibcha-speaking tribe that formed the Muisca Confederation of the central highlands of present-day Colombia. They were encountered by the Spanish Empire in 1537, at the time of the conquest...
over the control of emerald
Emerald
Emerald is a variety of the mineral beryl colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium. Beryl has a hardness of 7.5–8 on the 10 point Mohs scale of mineral hardness...
mining territories. They fought against a Spanish-Muisca coalition and were ultimately defeated in the Battle of Tocarema in 1537.
Spanish colonization
Spanish colonization of the region began in 1537 with Sebastián de BelalcázarSebastián de Belalcázar
Sebastián de Belalcázar was a Spanish conquistador.-Early life:He was born Sebastián Moyano in the province of Córdoba, Spain, in either 1479 or 1480. He took the name Belalcázar as that was the name of the castle-town near to his birthplace in Córdoba...
travelling from the city of Cali to be with his colleague, Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada
Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada
Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada was a Spanish explorer and conquistador in Colombia. He explored the northern part of South America. While successful in many of his exploits, acquiring massive amounts of gold and emeralds, he ended his career disastrously; and has been suggested as a possible model...
, in Bogota. On its way, Belarcázar founded the settlement that would become eventually become known as Ibagué. Belarcázar traveled until he reached the site of Flandes
Flandes
Flandes is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 22,064 as of the 1993 census....
in Tolima before arriving at Bogota. The definitive foundation began with Captain Andrés Lopez de Galarza who founded the city of Ibagué and the site on which the municipality of Cajamarca
Cajamarca, Tolima
Cajamarca is a town and municipality in the Tolima Department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 18,701 as of the 1993 census....
would be based, in the west of the department. These two cities would become an important part of the "coffee axis".
Demographics
- Mestizos (Amerindian - European mix) & European (94.46%. The majority of the population are racially mixed but there is a substantial minority of European ancestry
- Amerindian or Indigenous (4.32%)
- African (1.22%)
Physiography
The Tolima department includes three distinct regions: a mountainous region, occupied by the Cordillera Central; a plain, that corresponds to the valleys of the rivers Magdalena and Saldaña; and the region to the southeast which forms the western slope of the Cordillera Oriental, which contains the source of the Cabrera river.Hydrography
The territory of Tolima is traversed from the south to north by the Magdalena RiverMagdalena River
The Magdalena River is the principal river of Colombia, flowing northward about through the western half of the country. It takes its name from the biblical figure Mary Magdalene. It is navigable through much of its lower reaches, in spite of the shifting sand bars at the mouth of its delta, as...
, of which the main rivers of the Tolima are tributary. Other rivers are the Saldaña river, the Cabrera, Coello, the Tetuán, the Gualí, the Rio Recio, and the Rio Prado. The Rio Prado dam is found on the river of the same name. This is the largest fresh water lake in central Colombia and is also an important tourist attraction.
Armed conflict
The department is considered a traditional stronghold of the guerrilla movement FARC-EP. It was founded in 1964 in the mountain range between Tolima and Valle del Cauca. In 2011 there have been frequent clashes between the Colombian army and the Central Bloc of the FARC-EP, which was believed to be under the direct command of FARC leader Alfonso CanoAlfonso Cano
Guillermo León Sáenz Vargas , more commonly known by his nom de guerre Alfonso Cano was the commander of the militant group known as Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia...
until his death in November 2011.
Economy
Industry in Tolima, as has been happening to the whole country, has been declining in its proportion of GDP, while services gain more importance, a phenomenon known as deindustrialization. Within the sector services Tolima excels in commerce, public administration, other services to the community and "reparaciones", which contribute respectively 11.2% and 9.1% of the GDP.
The GDP per inhabitant in Tolima, registered during 2002 a reduction of 0.4% in constant prices.
According to the results of the DANE census, the department of Tolima registered between the years of 2001 and 2002 a diminution, to constant prices, of 0.1% in its GDP, falling from Col$2.05 trillion in 2001 to Col$2.04 trillion in 2002. The result is explained by the fact that traditional sectors within the economic structure of the department such as the coffee registered a reduction of 22.4%, reducing 2 percentage points to the total variation, and others did not have important growth or presented/displayed diminutions in its added values. So it is the case of the activity branches: transport, commerce and repairs, industry and electricity gas and water, which jointly reduced 1.7 percentage points to the variation, whereas other services, rights and taxes, construction and farming rest, forestry and 3.6 percentage points fish were the branches with greater positive contribution to the variation of the GDP when contributing.
Culture
- Music and the Arts
Music is the distinguishing cultural expression of Tolima. Its capital, Ibagué, is well-known as "the musical city of Colombia", and is home to one of the nation's classic conservatoriums. The department also is famous for the Fiestas of San Pedro in Espinal
Espinal
Espinal is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 63,859 as of the 1993 census.The town is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Espinal....
, San Juan in Natagaima
Natagaima
Natagaima is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia, on the shore of the Magdalena River, at 326 meters over the sea level. The population of the municipality was 21,324 as of the 1993 census, and its average temperature is 26 degrees celsius...
and in Ibagué, the Colombian Folkloric Festival and the "Concurso de Duetos Garzón y Collazos."
Tolima has produced many writers: Arturo Camacho Ramíez, Juan Lozano y Lozano, Diego Fallon, William Ospina, James Cañón
James Cañón
Born and raised in Ibagué, Colombia, James Cañón received his B.A in advertising from Universidad Jorge Tadeo Lozano of Bogotá. He moved to New York in the mid 1990s to study English, and later earned his MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. His short stories and essays have been...
, Martín Pomala, Luz Stella; painters: Darío Jiménez, Jorge Elías Triana, Darío Ortiz Robledo, Carlos Granada, Julio Fajardo; historians Eduardo Santa, Gonzalo Sanchez, Hermes Tovar Pinzón, Hernán Clavijo, Darío Ortiz Vidales.
- Gastronomy
The department is also widely recognised for its distinctive cuisine. Famous regional dishes include the Tamal Tolimense, a corn-and-yellow pea-based paste with pork, egg, chicken and vegetable filling, wrapped inside a plantain leaf; the Lechona
Lechona
Lechona and/or also known as "lechon asado" is a popular Colombian dish, similar in style to many other South American dishes. It consists of pork stuffed, yellow peas, green onion, yellow rice, and spices cooked in an outdoor, brick oven for about ten hours....
, a yellow pea-and-meat-stuffed pork; Empanadas, small potato, rice and meat stuffed pastries, made with corn dough; Achiras (although not exclusively from this department) and Bizcocho calentano, smaller flour pastries; and Quesillo
Quesillo
Quesillo refers to different Latin American food or dishes depending on the country:-Bolivia:Quesillo in Bolivia means small fresh cheese. Popular farm cheese of the Cochabamba valley. Usually made from raw cow milk, pepsin and acid coagulation, maize size curd, dry salted, hand formed palm size...
, a type of cheese wrapped in a plantain leaf. Drinks include the Avena, a cold oatmeal-based drink.
- Other
Tolima gave to the country ten presidents: Domingo Caycedo
Domingo Caycedo
Domingo de Caycedo y Sanz de Santamaría was a Colombian statesman who served as Vice-president of Gran Colombia and the Republic of New Granada, and due to the absence of the presidents, he himself served as President a total of eleven times, making him the person to have served more times as...
, José María Melo
José María Melo
José María Dionisio Melo y Ortiz was a Colombian general and politician of Pijao ancestry, who fought in the South American wars of independence, and who in 1854 rose to power and held the presidency of Colombia. In August, 1850, artisans demanded protection and the creation of a national workshop...
, Manuel Murillo Toro
Manuel Murillo Toro
Manuel Murillo Toro was a Colombian politician and statesman, who served as President of the United States of Colombia on two occasions, first from 1864 to 1866, and again between 1872 and 1874.- Biographic data :...
, José María Rojas Garrido
José María Rojas Garrido
José María Rojas Garrido was a Colombian Senator, and statesmen, who as the first Presidential Designate became Acting President of the United States of Colombia in 1866 during the absence of President elect Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera...
, Miguel Abadía Méndez
Miguel Abadía Méndez
Miguel Abadía Méndez was the 17th President of Colombia . A Conservative party politician, Abadía was the last president of the period known as the Conservative Hegemony, running unopposed and forming a one party Cabinet.- Political career :Abadía, as a young lawyer, was a professor and MP...
, Alfonso López Michelsen
Alfonso López Michelsen
Alfonso López Michelsen was a Colombian politician, lawyer and journalist. Lopez Michelsen was President of Colombia from 1974 to 1978. He was the son of Alfonso López Pumarejo, who was also president of Colombia from 1934 to 1938, and once again from 1942 to 1945...
, Darío Echandía
Darío Echandía
Darío Echandía Olaya was a lawyer and a Colombian political figure, as a member of the Colombian Liberal Party. He was born on October 13, 1897 in Chaparral, Tolima as the elder of seven brothers, and died on May 7, 1989 in Ibagué, Tolima....
, Carlos Lozano y Lozano, Gabriel París, and Deogracias Fonseca.
Municipalities
The Departament of Tolima groups its municipalities into six provinces: Norte, Oriente, Sur, Ibagué, Suroriente, and Nevados.- Ibagué
- AlvaradoAlvarado, TolimaAlvarado is a city and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 7,589 as of the 1993 census....
- AnzoátequiAnzoátequi, TolimaAnzoátegui is a town in Anzoátegui Municipality in the Tolima Department of Colombia....
- CajamarcaCajamarca, TolimaCajamarca is a town and municipality in the Tolima Department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 18,701 as of the 1993 census....
- Coello
- EspinalEspinalEspinal is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 63,859 as of the 1993 census.The town is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Espinal....
- FlandesFlandesFlandes is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 22,064 as of the 1993 census....
- IbaguéIbaguéIbagué is the capital of the department of Tolima in Colombia. It is situated 1,285 m above sea level, on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Central between the Chipalo and Combeima rivers, tributaries of the Coello River...
- PiedrasPiedrasPiedras is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 4,421 as of the 1993 census....
- RoviraRoviraThis article is about the Colombian town. For people with the surname Rovira, see Rovira Rovira is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 21,822 as of the 1993 census....
- San LuisSan Luis, TolimaSan Luis is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 16,003 as of the 1993 census....
- Valle de San JuanValle de San JuanValle de San Juan is a municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 6,178 as of 2008.- References :...
- Alvarado
- Nevados
- CasabiancaCasabianca, TolimaCasabianca is a town and municipality in the Tolima Department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 6,501 as of the 1993 census....
- HerveoHerveoHerveo is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 10,292 as of the 1993 census....
- LéridaLérida, TolimaLérida is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 20,153 as of the 1993 census....
- LíbanoLíbano, TolimaLíbano is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 39,785 as of the 1993 census. Along with Honda, Tolima, Líbano is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Líbano-Honda.-History:...
- MurilloMurillo, TolimaMurillo is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 5,460 as of the 1993 census....
- Santa IsabelSanta Isabel, TolimaSanta Isabel is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 6,220 as of the 1993 census....
- VenadilloVenadilloVenadillo is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 15,128 as of the 1993 census....
- VillahermosaVillahermosa, TolimaVillahermosa is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 12,574 as of the 1993 census. The municipality is also one of the most important coffee producers of Tolima's north....
- Casabianca
- Northern
- AmbalemaAmbalemaAmbalema is a municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of Ambalema was 7,277 as of the 1993 census....
- ArmeroArmeroThe Armero tragedy was one of the major consequences of the eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz stratovolcano in Tolima, Colombia on November 13, 1985...
(Guayabal) - FalanFalanFalan is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. Falan was founded before 1539, by the Guandecas and Pomponáes tribes. It was discovered by Spanish Baltazar Maldonado in 1539. The population of the municipality was 17,251 as of the 1993 census. The total area of the...
- FresnoFresno, TolimaFresno is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 29,908 as of the 1993 census.-References:*...
- HondaHonda, TolimaHonda is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 26,873 as of the 2005 census. Along with Líbano, Honda is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Líbano-Honda...
- MariquitaMariquita, TolimaSan Sebastian de Mariquita is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia, about north of 180 km from Bogotá. This town and municipality contains several very Important Spanish settlements that were located here due to its vicinity to the Magdalena River...
- PalocabildoPalocabildoPalocabildo is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia....
- Ambalema
- Eastern
- Carmen ApicalaCarmen ApicalaCarmen Apicala is a town and municipality in the Tolima Department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 6,056 as of the 1993 census.-External links:*...
- CundayCundayCunday is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 11,440 as of the 1993 census....
- IcononzoIcononzoIcononzo is a municipality located in the department of Tolima in Colombia. His temperature is 21 degrees, altitude 1304 m.Is regarded as the best town of Tolima, with the best panoramic view of landscapes.Background:...
- MelgarMelgar, TolimaMelgar is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 21,624 as of the 1993 census. The coordinates for this location are: 4.14.06.04 N -72.11.23.07 W.-References:...
- Villarrica
- Carmen Apicala
- Southern
- AtacoAtacoAtaco is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 20,060 in the 1993 census.The Colombian state has been accused of human rights violations in Ataco.-References:*...
- ChaparralChaparral, TolimaChapparal is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 40,880 as of the 1993 census....
- CoyaimaCoyaimaCoyaima is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 24,596 as of the 1993 census....
- NatagaimaNatagaimaNatagaima is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia, on the shore of the Magdalena River, at 326 meters over the sea level. The population of the municipality was 21,324 as of the 1993 census, and its average temperature is 26 degrees celsius...
- OrtegaOrtega, TolimaOrtega is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia, in South America. The overall population of the municipality was 36,421 as of the 1993 census...
- PlanadasPlanadasPlanadas is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 25,594 as of the 1993 census....
- RioblancoRioblancoRioblanco is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 27,649 as of the 1993 census....
- RoncesvallesRoncesvalles, TolimaRoncesvalles is a municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 7,647 as of the 1993 census....
- San AntonioSan Antonio, TolimaSan Antonio is a municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 16,282 as of the 1993 census....
- Ataco
- Southeastern
- AlpujarraAlpujarra, TolimaAlpujarra is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 4,695 as of the 1993 census....
- DoloresDolores, TolimaDolores is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 9,680 as of the 1993 census....
- GuamoGuamoGuamo is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 32,416 as of the 1993 census....
- PradoPrado, TolimaPrado is a municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. The population of the municipality was 9,291 as of the 1993 census....
- PurificaciónPurificación, TolimaPurificación is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia....
- SaldañaSaldaña, ColombiaSaldaña is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. Saldaña is where nearly 30% of Colombian rice is grown, and most of them work in the rice business. The population of the municipality was 14,273 as of the 1993 census....
- SuárezSuárez, TolimaSuárez is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia....
- Alpujarra
See also
- Alberto CastillaAlberto CastillaAlberto Castilla , born in Bogotá. He was engineer, journalist, poet, writer, mathematician and musician. He founded the Conservatory of the Tolima and composed the famous Bunde of Tolima like instrumental music to which Nicanor Velázquez added verses and that at the moment now is the Hymn of the...
(1878-1937), founder of the Conservatory of the Tolima, and composer of the Hymn of Tolima Department