Department of Amazonas

The Amazonas department is located in the southern end of the country, in the Amazon region. It is the department with the largest area in Colombia, although most of it is jungle territory.

To the north it borders Caquetá and Vaupés, to the east with Brazil, to the south with Peru and to the west with Putumayo. It has an area of 110 000 km² and this makes it the most extensive department in Colombia.

Its astronomical position is 4°14′ of south latitude and 0°20′ of north latitude, and 69°30′ and 74° 20′ of western longitude.

Its territory is completely composed of the Amazon rainforest. The southern portion of the department, south of the Putumayo River, is called the "Amazon Trapezoid", which includes the triple border of Colombia, Peru and Brazil, and in the south its limit is the Amazon River.

IMPORTANT DATA

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CAPITAL

LETICIA

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INHABITANTS

78,830

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GENTILIC

AMAZONENSES

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AREA

109,665 km²

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GOVERNOR

Óscar Enrique Sánchez Guerrero

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OFFICIAL WEBSITE

www.amazonas.gov.co

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MAP OF THE AMAZONAS DEPARTMENT

MUNICIPALITIES OF AMAZONAS

Below is the list of the 2 municipalities and 9 townships of the Amazonas department:

Name	Type	Inhabitants	Area (km²)	Altitude (msnm)	Temp. (°C)	Year of foundation
El Encanto	Departmental township	4,884	11,251	147	25	1951
La Chorrera	Departmental township	3,933	12,517	152	25	1972
La Pedrera	Departmental township	5,125	13,945	119	26	1935
La Victoria	Departmental township	1,115	1,443	141	25	1996
Leticia	Municipality	41,639	5,832	80	26	1867
Mirití-Paraná	Departmental township	1,525	16,864	116	26	1935
Puerto Alegría	Departmental township	2,023	8,774	156	25	1981
Puerto Arica	Departmental township	1,340	13,526	96	26	1981
Puerto Nariño	Municipality	8,279	1,475	96	30	1961
Puerto Santander	Departmental township	2,991	14,885	172	25	1946
Tarapacá	Departmental township	4,234	9,153	54	27	1909

HISTORY

In the pre-Hispanic period it was inhabited by indigenous Tucano, Arawak and Bora. Later, in June 1524, the most prominent explorer, the conqueror Francisco de Orellana, arrived in the area.

During the independence period it was inhabited by settlers who had arrived from the interior of the country and from some neighboring countries.

Its capital, Leticia, was founded by engineer Benigno Bustamante with the name "San Antonio" on April 25, 1867.

GEOGRAPHY

The Amazonas department is mostly composed of tropical humid forest and is known as “The Lung of the World”.

It has only a few elevations, such as:

• The Maine-Hanarí hill,
• The Munoir hill
• The La Pradera hill
• The Araracuara mountain range
• The Fotahy hills
• The Yupatí highlands

HYDROGRAPHY

Amazonas is a very privileged department in terms of water sources, as it has the most important and abundant rivers in the area, such as the Putumayo, Caquetá and Amazonas rivers. In the latter, the Amazon River has around 200 tributaries that flow into it.

The rivers that run through the Amazonas department are:

• Amazon River
• Putumayo River
• Caquetá River
• Igaraparaná River
• Caraparaná River
• Atacuarí River
• Mirití-Paraná River
• Apaporis River

CLIMATE

The climate in the Amazonas department is determined by the tropical humid forest that covers most of the territory, due to which the climate is mainly tropical rainy with high temperatures throughout the year.

ECONOMY

Agricultural production is quite limited in the department since the soils are very acidic and lack the necessary organic matter for crops. For this reason, food production is mainly focused on the production of cassava and banana.

Other economic activities in the department are the exploitation of rubber and wood, as well as fishing, whose abundant production is sent to the main markets in the city of Bogotá, the capital of Colombia.

NATURAL RESERVES

In Amazonas there are 2 natural reserves that have a large territory, which are:

The Amacayacú National Natural Park (it has 170,000 hectares and is 2 hours from Leticia)

The Cahuinari National Natural Park

ANTHEM

Lyrics: Maestro José Antonio Alzate Restrepo

Music: Maestro Francisco Del Rosario Vela González

CHORUS

Hail, glorious Amazonas,
Colombia's ideal promise;
majestic secret of love.
The most sacred and immortal
of the earth of Eden!

I

Amazonas extensive and glorious
immortal and proud you carry in your soul
the distinguished beautiful name of Leticia
Legendary woman, now made a reality;
Amazonas prosperous and ardent,
green carpet extended towards the people
you are the lung of the world and hope,
Dreamed refuge of humanity.

II

Your fauna is invaluable wealth
with species of singular beauty
its birds are a living example
crossing the skies with magical splendor,
in its extensive and majestic lakes
you can see dolphins and colorful fish
a delicacy of the gods like the gamitana
And the famous giant pirarucu.

III

From your extensive and fertile soil
fruits of magical flavors arise
and gardens of unparalleled beauty
like in Babylon victory flourished
brave settlers and natives
defended their homeland with bravery
as a legacy they left to their children
the immense happiness of this national soil.

IV

Very proud they preserve their essence
Traditions inherited from a cradle
Pure and worthy Ticuna blood
With sacred rites like the pelazón,
The Macunas, Huitotos and Mirañas
Are a sublime example of my land
As worthy Colombians they give to the world
A faithful reflection of our ancestral race.

V

Today they merge like sister races
similar customs of three towns
with an example of peace and culture
in the south of Leticia, a border of brotherhood
your river is the great hope
of the future sustenance of the earth
river sea they call you those who visit you
Oh! Seed of science and knowledge.

VI

Emerald of magical beauty
with its exotic beauty lairs,
The Pedrera and its hill like a giant
appears imposing, proud and colossal,
its cities emblem of progress
of the jungle rise legendary
like a mythological legend of the Greeks
like Atlantis submerged in the sea.

VII

In the distance fishermen row
confused in the beauty of the landscape
and in its beautiful sunsets
the great canvas of an inspired painter is reflected,
beautiful place where the innate fragrance of life
is still breathed
proudly stands out before its river
Oh! Leticia my dear capital.

See The Amazon Region of Colombia

See The Departments of Colombia

See The Natural Regions of Colombia