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Cali, Colombia

Cali
City
Santiago De Cali
Cali II.jpg
Flag of Cali
Flag
Official seal of Cali
Seal
Nickname(s): "The Salsa capital of the world", "Capital of Happiness", "Sports Capital of Colombia," "Branch of heaven"
Location of the municipality and city of Cali in the Valle del Cauca Department.
Location of the municipality and city of Cali in the Valle del Cauca Department.
Cali is located in Colombia
Cali
Cali
Location in Colombia
Coordinates: 3°25′14″N 76°31′20″W / 3.42056°N 76.52222°W / 3.42056; -76.52222Coordinates: 3°25′14″N 76°31′20″W / 3.42056°N 76.52222°W / 3.42056; -76.52222
Country Colombia
Department Valle del Cauca
Foundation 25 July 1536
Founded by Sebastián de Belalcázar
Government
 • Mayor Norman Maurice Armitage
Area
 • City 619 km2 (239 sq mi)
Elevation 1,018 m (3,340 ft)
Population (2012)
 • City 2,400,653
 • Rank Ranked 3rd
 • Density 3,900/km2 (10,000/sq mi)
 • Metro 3,400,000 (2,012)
Demonym(s) Caleño
Time zone COT (UTC-5)
Area code(s) +57 2
HDI (2010) 0.91 – very high
Website Official website (Spanish)
Cali Tower
Torre de Cali 1.jpg
General information
Coordinates 3°27′32.40″N 76°31′44.4″W / 3.4590000°N 76.529000°W / 3.4590000; -76.529000
Completed 1984
Design and construction
Architect Jaime Vélez
Developer Julián Echeverri cía.
Structural engineer Enrique Martínez Romero

Santiago de Cali (Spanish pronunciation: [sanˈtjaɣo ðe ˈkali]), usually known by its short name "Cali", is the capital of the Valle del Cauca department, and the most populous city in southwest Colombia, with an estimated 2,319,655 residents according to 2005-2020/DANE population projections. The city spans 560.3 km2 (216.3 sq mi) with 120.9 km2 (46.7 sq mi) of urban area, making Cali the third-largest city proper and metropolitan area in population and the second-largest city by area in the country. As the only major Colombian city with access to the Pacific Coast, Cali is the main urban and economic centre in southwest Colombia, and has one of the fastest-growing economies in the country. The city was founded on 25 July 1536 by the Spanish conquistador Sebastián de Belalcázar.

Cali is also a centre for sports in Colombia, and is the only Colombian city to have hosted the Pan American Games (in 1971). Cali hosted the 1992 World Wrestling Championships, the ninth edition of the World Games in 2013, the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in 2014 and the World Youth Championships in Athletics in 2015..

Cali is the shortened form of the official name of the city: Santiago de Cali. "Santiago" honours Saint James (Santiago in Spanish) whose feast day is celebrated on 25 July. The origin of the word "Cali" comes from the local Amerindians the "Calima" or "Calimas".


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