Iza, Boyacá

Iza
Municipality and town
Church of Iza
Location of the municipality and town of Iza in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Country	Colombia
Department	Boyacá Department
Province	Sugamuxi Province
Founded	2 January 1556
Government
• Mayor	Diego López (2016-2019)
Area
• Municipality and town	34 km2 (13 sq mi)
Elevation	2,560 m (8,400 ft)
Population
• Municipality and town	2,349
• Density	69/km2 (180/sq mi)
• Urban	1,026
Time zone	Colombia Standard Time (UTC-5)
Website	Official website

Iza is a town and municipality in Boyacá Department, Colombia. Iza is located near the Tota Lake and part of the Sugamuxi Province, a subregion of Boyacá. Iza is located in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at a distance of 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from Sogamoso and 90 kilometres (56 mi) from the department capital Tunja. The municipality borders Firavitoba and Sogamoso in the north, Sogamoso and Cuítiva in the east, in the west Pesca and Firavitoba, and in the south Cuítiva.

History

Before the Spanish conquest, the area of Iza was inhabited first by indigenous groups during the Herrera Period and later by the Muisca, organized in the Muisca Confederation. Iza was ruled by the iraca of Sugamuxi, modern neighbouring Sogamoso. According to Muisca mythology, the messenger god Bochica is said to have lived outside Iza in a cave.

In the Chibcha language of the Muisca za means "night", and Iza means "place of healing".^[1]

Modern Iza was founded on January 2, 1554. The town is nicknamed Nido Verde de Boyacá; "Green Nest of Boyacá".

Economy

Main economical activities of Iza are mining (coal and pozzolan) and agriculture.

Born in Iza

• Jairo Pérez, former professional cyclist

Gallery

• 
  Street view
• 
  Street view
• 
  Street view
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  Mountain view

• 
  Church of Iza
• 
  Church
• 
  Church tower
• 
  Central park

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iza, Boyacá.

Provinces and Municipalities in Boyacá Department
Central Boyacá Province	Cómbita Cucaita Chíquiza Chivatá Motavita Oicatá Siachoque Samacá Sora Soracá Sotaquirá Toca Tunja Tuta Ventaquemada
Northern Boyacá Province	Boavita Covarachía La Uvita San Mateo Sativanorte Sativasur Soatá Susacón Tipacoque
Western Boyacá Province	Briceño Buenavista Caldas Chiquinquirá Coper La Victoria Maripí Muzo Otanche Pauna Quípama Saboyá San Miguel de Sema San Pablo de Borbur Tununguá
Eastern Boyacá Province	Almeida Chivor Guateque Guayatá La Capilla Somondoco Sutatenza Tenza
Gutiérrez Province	Chiscas El Cocuy El Espino Guacamayas Güicán Panqueba
La Libertad Province	Labranzagrande Pajarito Paya Pisba
Lengupá Province	Berbeo Campohermoso Miraflores Páez San Eduardo Zetaquirá
Márquez Province	Boyacá Ciénaga Jenesano Nuevo Colón Ramiriquí Rondón Tibaná Turmequé Úmbita Viracachá
Neira Province	Chinavita Garagoa Macanal Pachavita San Luis de Gaceno Santa María
Ricaurte Province	Arcabuco Chitaraque Gachantivá Moniquirá Ráquira Sáchica San José de Pare Santa Sofía Santana Sutamarchán Tinjacá Togüí Villa de Leyva
Sugamuxi Province	Aquitania Cuítiva Firavitoba Gámeza Iza Mongua Monguí Nobsa Pesca Sogamoso Tibasosa Tópaga Tota
Tundama Province	Belén Busbanzá Cerinza Corrales Duitama Floresta Paipa Santa Rosa de Viterbo Tutazá
Valderrama Province	Betéitiva Chita Jericó Paz de Río Socotá Socha Tasco
Boyacá Frontier District	Cubará
Boyacá Special Handling Zone	Puerto Boyacá
See also: List of municipalities in Boyacá

Coordinates: 5°36′N 72°59′W / 5.600°N 72.983°W / 5.600; -72.983