Department of Antioquia Departamento de Antioquia |
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Department | |||
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Motto: Liberty and Valour (Spanish: Libertad y Valor) |
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Anthem: | |||
Antioquia shown in red |
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Topography of the department |
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Country | Colombia | ||
Region | Andean Region | ||
Established | 1826 | ||
Capital | Medellín | ||
Government | |||
• Governor | Luis Pérez Gutiérrez (2016-2019) | ||
Area | |||
• Total | 63,612 km2 (24,561 sq mi) | ||
Area rank | 6th | ||
Population (2013) | |||
• Total | 6,299,886 | ||
• Rank | 2nd | ||
• Density | 99/km2 (260/sq mi) | ||
• Demonym | Antioqueño, -a | ||
Time zone | UTC-05 | ||
ISO 3166 code | CO-ANT | ||
Provinces | 9 | ||
Municipalities | 125 | ||
Website | www.gobant.gov.co |
The Department of Antioquia (Spanish pronunciation: [anˈtjokja]) is one of the 32 departments of Colombia, located in the central northwestern part of Colombia with a narrow section that borders the Caribbean Sea. Most of its territory is mountainous with some valleys, much of which is part of the Andes mountain range. Antioquia has been part of many territorial divisions of former countries created over the present day territory of Colombia, and prior to the Colombian Constitution of 1886, Antioquia State had its own sovereign government.
The department covers an area of 63,612 km² (24,427 sq mi), and has a population of 5,819,358 (2006 estimate); 6.6 million (2010 estimate). Antioquia borders with the Córdoba Department and the Caribbean Sea to the north, Chocó to the west, to the east it borders the departments of Bolivar, Santander and Boyaca, and to the south the departments of Caldas and Risaralda.
Medellín is Antioquia's capital city, and the second largest city in the country. Other important towns are Santa Fe de Antioquia, the old capital located on the Cauca, and Puerto Berrío on the Magdalena.
Antioquia is the 6th largest Department of Colombia. It is predominantly mountainous, crossed by the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes. The Cordillera Central, further divides to form the Aburrá valley, in which the capital Medellín is located. The Cordillera Central forms the plateaus of Santa Rosa de Osos and Rionegro.