Neiva, Colombia
| Neiva | |||
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| City | |||
| Municipio de Neiva | |||
Skyline of Neiva's downtown
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| Nickname(s): "Magdalena River's Capital" | |||
 Location in the Huila Department. Urban in red, municipality in dark gray |
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 Neiva
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| Coordinates: 2°59′55″N 75°18′16″W / 2.99861°N 75.30444°WCoordinates: 2°59′55″N 75°18′16″W / 2.99861°N 75.30444°W | |||
| Country |
 Colombia
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| Region | Andean | ||
| Department | Huila | ||
| Foundation | May 24, 1612 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Pedro Hernán Suárez Trujillo | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 1,553 km2 (600 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 442 m (1,450 ft) | ||
| Population (2005-2006 Census) | |||
| • Total | 372,859 | ||
| • Density | 240/km2 (620/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Neivano | ||
| Time zone | Eastern Time Zone (UTC-05) | ||
| Postal code | 410001-18 | ||
| Area code(s) | 57 + 8 | ||
| Website | Official website (Spanish) | ||
Neiva is the capital of the Department of Huila. It is located in the valley of the Magdalena River in south central Colombia with a population of about 378,857 inhabitants. It is one of the most important cities in southern Colombia, mainly because of its strategic geographical location.
Neiva was first founded in 1539 by Juan de Cabrera in an area now belonging to the municipality of Campoalegre. In 1550, Juan de Alonso y Arias relocated the city to the place that is now the municipality of Villavieja. At this location, the city was destroyed by indigenous tribes in 1560. The city was founded, at its actual location, for the third and final time in 1612 by Diego de Ospina y Medinilla.
Neiva became important during the colonial times because of its strategic location. It was located in the trade route that communicated the Viceroyalty of Peru with Bogotá and Caracas. The city was declared as the capital of the Province of Neiva, made up of the Neiva, La Plata, Timaná, Purificación cabildos. In 1905 the city became the capital of the newly created Huila Department, which had been severed from the Tolima Department by the national government.
In 1967, the city was hit severely by an earthquake of magnitude 7.2. The earthquake destroyed several buildings including the Palacio de las 57 ventanas, the Governor's building.
Due to its location near the equator and its low altitude, the city has a hot annual average climate with daytime temperatures ranging from 88 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It is about 300 kilometers / 186.4 miles (about a five-hour drive) from the Colombian capital, Bogotá.
The city of Palembang in Indonesia is the antipode of Neiva.
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Wikipedia