Top 8 Facts about the city of Bogotá
The city of rhythm; music and coffee! Bogota is the city of Colombia- the county in South America. If you have heard of Colombia before, you must know that it is synonymous with culture, tropical rainforests, nature, and beaches, of course! The city is located in the Andean Region, one of Colombia’s six regions.
Here are twenty other very interesting facts about this city!
1. Gateway to South America
Bogota is also known as the gateway to South America because of its location; it connects North and Central America in the Northwestern part of the continent.
2. One of the highest points in the Americas
Bogota lies at a whopping 8,660 ft above sea level. This might explain the subtropical climate with an annual temperature of 14.4 degrees Celsius. This is the third-highest point in South America. There are no seasons in Bogota, you get sunshine all year round, with rain and dry season a few months a year.
3. Capital CityÂ
Spain colonized Colombia, and the country became a republic in 1819 the country was then called Gran Colombia and after independence, it became the Republic of Colombia on July 20th, 1819; and Bogota became the capital city.
4. Museum of Gold
This has to be one of the most visited places in Colombia. The Gold Museum receives over 500,000 tourists every year! The museum, as the name suggests, displays an array of gold and other rocks such as the Tumbaga and has a collection of over 34,000 pre-Colombian gold items.Â
5. Festivals!
Bogota plays host to the Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro, the biggest theater festival in the world. It is also home to the Feria Internacional del Libro, one of the three main Spanish –Speaking America’s book fairs.
6. Legendary music
The music culture in Bogota is so rich and powerful, that in 2013, it was named UNESCO City of Music! The city boasts of more than 60 music festivals and more than 400 live music venues all year round. The city’s music scene has all kinds of genres; salsa, jazz, pop, gospel, rock, opera, classical, electronic, tropical, just to name a few. The ‘Festivales al Parque’, a program started in 1995, which was meant to improve the city’s reputation and image through art and music.Â
7. Bogota’s foundation
Bogota dates back to 1538, therefore it is safe to say that the city has been in existence for over 400 years! Now, the city is one of the most important in the Americas, with a robust population and exports crude oil, petroleum, coffee, coal, and even gold! The city now has a robust population, from 68 indigenous groups, a gypsy population, and the raizal and Afro-Colombian groups.
8. Market timeÂ
Being a cultural and food city, Bogota is known for its amazing markets and when one is in the city, there is a variety of markets to shop. Get amazing coffee, tobacco, flowers, and even cocoa. Oh, you can also buy emeralds in the city, since there is plenty of it and is readily available in the city!
