*** Welcome to piglix ***

Gachala

Gachalá
Municipality and town
Central square and church of Gachalá
Central square and church of Gachalá
Flag of Gachalá
Flag
Official seal of Gachalá
Seal
Location of the municipality and town of Gachalá inside Cundinamarca Department of Colombia
Location of the municipality and town of Gachalá inside Cundinamarca Department of Colombia
Gachalá is located in Colombia
Gachalá
Gachalá
Location in Colombia
Coordinates: 4°41′35″N 73°31′12″W / 4.69306°N 73.52000°W / 4.69306; -73.52000Coordinates: 4°41′35″N 73°31′12″W / 4.69306°N 73.52000°W / 4.69306; -73.52000
Country  Colombia
Department Cundinamarca
Province Guavio Province
Founded 22 February 1810
Founded by Mariano de Mendoza y Bueno
Government
 • Mayor Germán Martínez Beltrán
(2016-2019)
Area
 • Municipality and town 448.29 km2 (173.09 sq mi)
Elevation 1,712 m (5,617 ft)
Population (2015)
 • Municipality and town 5,715
 • Density 13/km2 (33/sq mi)
 • Urban 2,025
Time zone Colombia Standard Time (UTC-5)
Website Official website

Gachalá is a municipality and town of Colombia in the Guavio Province, part of the department of Cundinamarca. The urban centre of Gachalá is situated at a distance of 148 kilometres (92 mi) from the capital Bogotá at an altitude of 1,712 metres (5,617 ft) in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes. The municipality borders the western portion of the split municipality Ubalá and the department of Boyacá in the north, the eastern part of Ubalá and Medina in the east, Fómeque, Junín and Gama in the west and Fómeque, Medina and the department of Meta in the south.

The name of Gachalá is derived from Chibcha and means "clay vessel of the night" or "defeat of the night".

Before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca, Gachalá was inhabited by the Chío tribe, belonging to the Muisca. As of 1548, the terrain of Gachalá belonged to the cacique of Guatavita.

Modern Gachalá was founded on February 22, 1810, by Mariano de Mendoza y Bueno.

Main economical activity in Gachalá is the hydroelectric plant of the Guavio Reservoir. Also emerald mining is an important source of income for Gachalá. The 858 carats (171.6 g) Gachalá Emerald was found in and named after Gachalá.

Church of Gachalá

Gachalá Emerald


...
Wikipedia

...