Macanal

Macanal
Municipality and town

Church of Macanal

Flag

Location of the municipality and town of Macanal in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Country  Colombia
Department Boyacá Department
Province Neira Province
Founded 4 May 1807
Government
  Mayor Nabor Felipe Londoño Gordillo
(2016-2019)
Area
  Municipality and town 199.5 km2 (77.0 sq mi)
Elevation 1,680.3 m (5,512.8 ft)
Population (2015)
  Municipality and town 4,821
  Density 24/km2 (63/sq mi)
  Urban 1,108
Time zone Colombia Standard Time (UTC-5)
Website Official website

Macanal is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá, part of the subregion of the Neira Province. The urban centre is located in the Tenza Valley in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes at an altitude of 1,680.3 metres (5,513 ft) but parts of the municipality reach altitudes of 2,500 metres (8,200 ft). It borders Campohermoso in the east, Almeida in the west, Garagoa in the north and in the south Santa María and Chivor.[1]

Etymology

The name Macanal is either derived from the Chibcha word Macana, meaning garrote, or from the Macana palm tree.[1][2]

History

The area of Macanal was part of the Muisca Confederation, a loose confederation of different rulers of the Muisca. The zaque of Hunza ruled over Macanal.

Modern Macanal was founded on May 4, 1807.[1]

Geology

The Macanal Formation, an organic shale, outcrops near and has been named after Macanal.

Economy

Main economical activities of Macanal are agriculture; coffee (Coffea arabica), bananas, maize, beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), yuca, sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza), avocadoes, papayas, mangoes, guayaba and cucumbers (Cucumis sativus and Cyclanthera pedata), livestock farming and mining (gypsum and emeralds).[1]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Macanal.

Coordinates: 4°58′19″N 73°19′10″W / 4.97194°N 73.31944°W / 4.97194; -73.31944

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/14/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.