Founded 23 December 1816 Website Official website Population 8,067 (2015) | Elevation 2,690 m (8,830 ft) Area 62 km² Local time Sunday 8:31 AM | |
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Time zone Colombia Standard Time (UTC-5) Weather 12°C, Wind NW at 5 km/h, 82% Humidity | ||
Motavita is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá, part of the subregion of the Central Boyacá Province. It covers approximately 62 square kilometres (24 sq mi).
Contents
Map of Motavita, Boyac%C3%A1, Colombia
Etymology
The name Motavita comes from the Chibcha language and means "washing place to prepare for growing crops", indicating a ceremonial use.
Geography
Motavita is bordered to the north by Arcabuco and Cómbita, to the east and south by Tunja, and to the west by Sora and Chíquiza.
History
In the time before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca, Motavita was inhabited by the Muisca, organised in their loose Muisca Confederation. Motavita was an important settlement in the coca trade with surrounding indigenous groups, such as the Muzo people who populated the western parts of Boyacá. Motavita was ruled by the zaque of nearby Hunza. Conquistador Hernán Pérez de Quesada, brother of Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, reached Motavita in 1540. In 1776 the first evangelisation of the Catholic Church was established by friar Juan Pérez. Modern Motavita was founded on December 23, 1816 and its first mayor was Marino Monrroy.
Divisions
Motavita was divided into five cadastral vereda (townships): Centro, Carbonera, Ristá, Salvial and Sote Panelas; however, Sote Panelas had four more veredas split off from it, namely: Frutillal, Versalles, Quebrada Honda and Barro Hondo, thus making nine vereda.