Viracachá

Viracachá is a town and municipality in the Márquez Province, Colombia, part of the Colombian department of Boyacá. Viracachá is situated on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at 22 kilometres (14 mi) from the department capital Tunja and the small urban center at 2,520 metres (8,270 ft) above sea level. Other parts of Viracachá reach 3,200 metres (10,500 ft). The municipality borders Siachoque, Rondón and Soracá in the north and east, in the south Ciénega and Ciénega, Soracá and Ramiriquí in the west.[1]

Viracachá
Municipality and town
Ancient road used by the Muisca in Viracachá
Flag
Location of the municipality and town of Viracachá in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Country Colombia
DepartmentBoyacá Department
ProvinceMárquez Province
Founded15 February 1556
Government
 • MayorGregorio Rodríguez Soler
(2020-2023)
Area
 • Municipality and town68 km2 (26 sq mi)
 • Urban
1 km2 (0.4 sq mi)
Elevation
2,520 m (8,270 ft)
Population
 (2015)
 • Municipality and town3,222
 • Density47/km2 (120/sq mi)
 • Urban
374
Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
WebsiteOfficial website

Etymology

About the name Viracachá exist different interpretations. One interpretation says the name is derived from Quechua and means "air of the lake".[1] Another attributes it to Chibcha meaning "lord of the enclosure of the wind".[2][3]

History

In the centuries before the Spanish conquest Viracachá was inhabited by the Muisca, organized in their loose Muisca Confederation. Due to its proximity to the northern capital Hunza, Viracachá was ruled by the zaque. Modern Viracachá was founded by Dominican missionaries on February 15th, 1556.[1]

Economy

Viracachá is a rural village where most of the people work in the tertiary sector of services. Also agriculture and chicken farming is executed. The town does not have a bank.[1]

  • Sunset in Viracachá

References
  1. (in Spanish) Official website Viracachá
  2. Espejo Olaya, Maria Bernarda (1999). Notas sobre toponimia en algunas coplas colombianas [Notes about toponomy of some Colombian ballads - Thesaurus] (PDF) (in Spanish). Tomo LIV, Núm. 3. p. 1126.
  3. (in Spanish) Etymology Viracachcá - Excelsio.net

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