Mongua

Mongua
Municipality and town
Central square of Mongua
Flag
Location of the municipality and town of Mongua in the Boyacá Department of Colombia.
Country	Colombia
Department	Boyacá Department
Province	Sugamuxi Province
Founded	4 November 1977
Government
• Mayor	Bernardo Pérez (2016-2019)
Area
• Municipality and town	365.5 km2 (141.1 sq mi)
• Urban	13.79 km2 (5.32 sq mi)
Elevation	2,975 m (9,760 ft)
Population (2005)
• Municipality and town	4,717
• Urban	1,628
Time zone	Colombia Standard Time (UTC-5)
Website	Official website

Mongua is a town and municipality in Sugamuxi Province in the Colombian Department of Boyacá. Mongua is situated in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes at altitudes between 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) and 4,000 metres (13,000 ft). The municipality borders Gámeza, Socotá, Pisba, Labranzagrande, Aquitania, Sogamoso, Monguí and Tópaga.

In the centuries before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, the central highlands of Colombia (Altiplano Cundiboyacense) were inhabited by the Muisca. Mongua was part of the rule of the iraca of Sugamuxi. According to the Muisca religion, the messenger god Bochica traveled to Gámeza and took shelter in a cave called Toy´ña. The cacique of Mongua brought him gifts in the cave.

Mongua in the Chibcha language of the Muisca means either "bath on the hill", or "land of the rising Sun".

Main economical activities in Mongua are agriculture (predominantly potatoes) and coal mining.