Amazonas Department

Amazonas

Department

Flag

Coat of arms

Motto: Entre todos podemos
(Spanish: All of us, can)

Anthem:

Amazonas shown in red

Topography of the department

Colombia

October 5, 1991

Government

• Governor

Manuel Antonio Carebilla Cuellar(2016-2019)

Area

• Total

109,665 km² (42,342 sq mi)

Area rank

1st

Population (2013)

• Total

74,541

• Rank

30th

• Density

0.68/km² (1.8/sq mi)

Website

Department of Amazonas (Spanish: Departamento del Amazonas, Spanish pronunciation: [amaˈsonas]) is a department of Colombia in the south of the country. It is the largest department in area while also having the 3rd smallest population. Its capital is Leticia. Its name comes from the Amazon River which drains in the department, and the Amazon rainforest which covers it.

The department name comes from the name of the Amazon River. The river was named by the Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana (1511 - 1546), who, on his voyage of exploration, said he was attacked by "fierce females" looked like Amazons of the Greek mythology, however, the existence of a female warrior tribe in that time hasn’t been demonstrated and it is possible that they were long-haired Native American warriors who impressed the conqueror who called the jungle and the river with the name of Amazon.

The following ethnic groups are found in the department: Bora, Cocama, Macuna, Mirana, Okaina, Ticunas, Tucano, Uitoto, Yagua and Yucuna, among others. These groups are more than 5,000 years old.

Department of Amazonas covers 109,665 km2 of area protected,most it under name of "forest reserve" since 1959, currently has 4 "National Parks" (Amacayacú, Cahuinarí, Yagoje Apaporis and Rio Puree).

Coordinates: 4°12′N 69°55′W / 4.200°N 69.917°W / 4.200; -69.917

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Wikipedia