Vichada Department
Encyclopedia
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 Guainía
. 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 Carreño
located in extreme northeastern part of the department and bordering Venezuela. the department is subdivided into four municipalities
; Puerto Carreño, La Primavera
, Santa Rosalía
and Cumaribo
. It also contains 46 indigenous reserves and 6 communities.
. 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 Guainía 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 28 °C (82.4 °F) throughout the year.
and Orinoco rivers. The town was named Puerto Carreño
in honor of Pedro María Carreño, then acting Minister of Government.
In August 1974, Puerto Carreño 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 Carreño as its capital.
has displaced thousands of civilians in 2010 and 2011. Political commentators say that the 'resurgence' of groups like FARC-EP in Vichada and other regions present an 'immense challenge' to the government of Juan Manuel Santos
. Vichada is considered in the periphery of the Colombian armed conflict
due to its remoteness from more populated regions.
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...
of the Republic of Colombia in South America. Vichada is located in the eastern plains of Colombia, in the Orinoquia region
Orinoquía Region of Colombia
The Orinoquía Region is one of the five natural regions of Colombia. It is also known colloquially as Eastern Plains from the Spanish Llanos Orientales. The region covers most of the area of the departments of Meta, Arauca, Casanare and Vichada. The region is rich in oil and is apt for extensive...
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
Arauca Department
Arauca is a department of Colombia located in the extreme north of the Orinoco part of Colombia , 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 Boyacá Department...
, to the northwest with the department of Casanare
Casanare Department
Casanare is a department of Colombia. It is in the central eastern region of the country. Its capital is Yopal. It contains oil fields and an 800 km pipeline leading to the coastal port of Coveñas owned by BP.-Municipalities:# Aguazul# Chameza...
, to the west with the department of Meta
Meta Department
Meta is a department of Colombia. It is close to the geographic center of the country, to the east of the Andean mountains. A large portion of the department, which is also crossed by the Meta River, is covered by a grassland plain known as the Llanos. Its capital is Villavicencio...
, to the southwest narrowly bordering with the department of Guaviare
Guaviare Department
Guaviare is a department of Colombia. It is in the southern central region of the country. Its capital is San José del Guaviare. Guaviare was created on July 4, 1991 by the new Political Constitution of Colombia...
and to the south with the department of Guainía
Guainía Department
Guainía is a department of Colombia. It is in the east of the country, bordering Venezuela and Brazil. Its capital is Inirida. In 1963 Guainía was split off from Vaupés. The northern part and the Inírida River are included in the Orinoco river basin; the rest is part of Amazonia...
. 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 Carreño
Puerto Carreño
Puerto Carreño is the departmental capital, and a municipality, of the department of Vichada in the llanos of Colombia.-History:In 1913 the Colombian government created the province of Vichada and it was decided that its capital should be at the convergence of the Orinoco and Meta rivers where...
located in extreme northeastern part of the department and bordering Venezuela. the department is subdivided into four municipalities
Municipalities of Colombia
The Municipalities of Colombia are decentralized subdivisions of the Republic of Colombia. Municipalities make up most of the departments of Colombia with 1,119 municipalities...
; Puerto Carreño, La Primavera
La Primavera, Vichada
La Primavera is a town and municipality located in the Department of Vichada, Colombia.-Geography:...
, Santa Rosalía
Santa Rosalia, Vichada
Santa Rosalia is a town and municipality located in the Department of Vichada, Colombia.-Geography:The area is part of the Llanos plain shared by Colombia and Venezuela, located within the Orinoquia region of Colombia. The municipality has an average temperature of 28°C throughout the year,...
and Cumaribo
Cumaribo
Cumaribo is a town and municipality located in the Department of Vichada, Republic of Colombia. Cumaribo was founded by Jose Nicolino Mattar in 1959....
. 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 LlanosLlanos
The Llanos is a vast tropical grassland plain situated to the east of the Andes in Colombia and Venezuela, in northwestern South America. It is an ecoregion of the Flooded grasslands and savannas Biome....
. 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 Guainía 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
Meta River
The Meta River is formed in the Meta Department, Colombia by the confluence of the Humea, Guatiquía and Guayuriba rivers. It flows east-northeastward across the Llanos Orientales plains of Colombia through an ancient fault...
within the plains of los Llanos
Llanos
The Llanos is a vast tropical grassland plain situated to the east of the Andes in Colombia and Venezuela, in northwestern South America. It is an ecoregion of the Flooded grasslands and savannas Biome....
. Part of the department lies on the Guiana Shield. Soil lacks sediments due to the lack of alluvions from rivers coming from the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
mountains.
Climate in the Department of Vichada is predominantly hot and humid with an average temperature of 28 °C (82.4 °F) throughout 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 MetaMeta River
The Meta River is formed in the Meta Department, Colombia by the confluence of the Humea, Guatiquía and Guayuriba rivers. It flows east-northeastward across the Llanos Orientales plains of Colombia through an ancient fault...
and Orinoco rivers. The town was named Puerto Carreño
Puerto Carreño
Puerto Carreño is the departmental capital, and a municipality, of the department of Vichada in the llanos of Colombia.-History:In 1913 the Colombian government created the province of Vichada and it was decided that its capital should be at the convergence of the Orinoco and Meta rivers where...
in honor of Pedro María Carreño, then acting Minister of Government.
In August 1974, Puerto Carreño was elevated to the category of municipality
Municipalities of Colombia
The Municipalities of Colombia are decentralized subdivisions of the Republic of Colombia. Municipalities make up most of the departments of Colombia with 1,119 municipalities...
by decree 1594 of that same year.
On July 5, 1991 Vichada was elevated to the category of department
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...
and Puerto Carreño as its capital.
Impact of armed conflict on civilians
The guerrilla organization FARC-EP has a 'significant presence' in the department as of 2011. They have frequently kidnapped oil workers in the first months of 2011. Fighting between guerrilla movements FARC-EP and Ejército de Liberación Nacional, neo-paramilitary groups and the Colombian ArmyColombian Army
The National Army of Colombia is the land military force of the government of Colombia and the largest service of the Colombian Armed Forces...
has displaced thousands of civilians in 2010 and 2011. Political commentators say that the 'resurgence' of groups like FARC-EP in Vichada and other regions present an 'immense challenge' to the government of Juan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos
Juan Manuel Santos Calderón is a Colombian politician who has been the President of Colombia since 7 August 2010. He previously served as Minister of Foreign Trade, Minister of Finance, and Minister of National Defense.-Career:...
. Vichada is considered in the periphery of the Colombian armed conflict
Colombian Armed Conflict
The Colombian armed conflict or Colombian Civil War are terms that are employed to refer to the current asymmetric low-intensity armed conflict in Colombia that has existed since approximately 1964 or 1966, between the Colombian government and peasant guerrillas such as the Revolutionary Armed...
due to its remoteness from more populated regions.
Municipalities
- CumariboCumariboCumaribo is a town and municipality located in the Department of Vichada, Republic of Colombia. Cumaribo was founded by Jose Nicolino Mattar in 1959....
- La PrimaveraLa Primavera, VichadaLa Primavera is a town and municipality located in the Department of Vichada, Colombia.-Geography:...
- Puerto CarreñoPuerto CarreñoPuerto Carreño is the departmental capital, and a municipality, of the department of Vichada in the llanos of Colombia.-History:In 1913 the Colombian government created the province of Vichada and it was decided that its capital should be at the convergence of the Orinoco and Meta rivers where...
- Santa RosaliaSanta Rosalia, VichadaSanta Rosalia is a town and municipality located in the Department of Vichada, Colombia.-Geography:The area is part of the Llanos plain shared by Colombia and Venezuela, located within the Orinoquia region of Colombia. The municipality has an average temperature of 28°C throughout the year,...