Amazonas Department

Amazonas Department
Departamento del Amazonas
Department

Flag
Coat of arms
Motto(s): Entre todos podemos
(Spanish: All of us, can)
Anthem: Himno de Amazonas

Amazonas shown in red

Topography of the department
Country  Colombia
Region Amazonía Region
Established October 5, 1991
Capital Leticia
Government
 • Governor Manuel Antonio Carebilla Cuellar(2016-2019)
Area[1]
 • Total 109,665 km2 (42,342 sq mi)
Area rank 1st
Population (2013)[2]
 • Total 74,541
 • Rank 30th
 • Density 0.68/km2 (1.8/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-05
ISO 3166 code CO-AMA
Website www.amazonas.gov.co

Department of Amazonas (Spanish: Departamento del Amazonas, Spanish pronunciation: [amaˈsonas]) is a department of Colombia in the south of the country. It is the largest department in area while also having the 3rd smallest population. Its capital is Leticia. Its name comes from the Amazon River which drains the department.

Toponymy

The department name comes from the name of the Amazon River. The river was named by the Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana (1511 - 1546), who, on his voyage of exploration, said he was attacked by "fierce females" looked like Amazons of the Greek mythology, however, the existence of a female warrior tribe in that time hasn’t been demonstrated and it is possible that they were long-haired Native American warriors who impressed the conqueror who called the jungle and the river with the name of Amazon.

Culture

The following ethnic groups are found in the department: Bora, Cocama, Macuna, Mirana, Okaina, Ticunas, Tucano, Uitoto, Yagua and Yucuna, among others. These groups are more than 5,000 years old.

National parks

Amazonas shore.

Department of Amazonas covers 109,665 km2 of area protected,most it under name of "forest reserve" since 1959, currently has 4 "National Parks" (Amacayacú, Cahuinarí, Yagoje Apaporis and Rio Puree).


Municipalities and communities

  1. El Encanto
  2. La Chorrera
  3. La Pedrera
  4. La Victoria
  5. Leticia
  6. Mirití-Paraná
  7. Puerto Alegría
  8. Puerto Arica
  9. Puerto Nariño
  10. Puerto Santander
  11. Tarapacá
Municipalities of Amazonas

References

  1. ↑ "Nuestro Departamento: Información general: Geografía". Gobernación del Amazonas.
  2. ↑ "DANE". Archived from the original on November 13, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2013.

Coordinates: 4°12′N 69°55′W / 4.200°N 69.917°W / 4.200; -69.917

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