-->

• The capital of Colombia, Bogota is the largest city in the country and, at 12,146 feet above sea level, the third highest city in the world.Encyclopedia.com: Top ten highest cities in the world above sea level

• Fast Facts

  1. Country: Colombia
  2. Founded: August 6, 1538
  3. European founder: Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesda
  4. Mayor: Samuel Moreno Rojas
  5. Language: Spanish
  6. Population: Approximately 7 millionCity Mayors: The largest cities in the world by land area, population and density
  7. Currency: Colombian Peso
  8. Country Code: 57
  9. Area code: 1
  10. Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time
  11. [http: //www.wunderground.com/global/stations/80222.html Current Time and Weather]
  12. [http: //finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?amt=1&from;=USD&to;=COP&submit;=Convert Current Exchange Rate]

• Architecture and Government

  Bogota is a unique combination of modern city high rises and colonial architecture peppered with dilapidated shanties. The city is divided into 20 localities that hold independent elections to elect by popular vote on administrative boards that are headed by local mayors.

• Brief History

  Before being discovered by the Spanish in 1538, the area was already a major center of civilization in South America known as Bacatá and inhabited by the Muiscas. Explorer Gonzalo Jimenez de Quesada renamed the area, combining the local area name and that of his birthplace (Santa Fe) to create the name Santa Fe de Bacata.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Colombia | ELN | Farc | FARC Hostages | Volcanoes | Ecuador | Brazil | Haiti | Dominican Republic | Honduras | Nicaragua | Costa Rica | Peru | Panama | Venezuela | Guyana

Categories

• View History
• Discuss on the Message Board
• Embed this Page
• Share this page