Caldas Department

The department of Caldas is located in the Andean region and its capital is the city of Manizales. It borders to the north with Antioquia, to the east with Boyacá and Cundinamarca, to the south with Tolima and Risaralda and to the west with Risaralda.

Its astronomical position is between 4°48′ and 5°57′ of north latitude and 74°37′ and 75°58′ of western longitude.

With an area of 7.888 km² it is one of the least extensive departments in Colombia and one of the most densely populated.

The department of Caldas belongs to the coffee axis, also known as El Viejo Caldas, El Gran Caldas or La Mariposa Verde.

This department has a very particular characteristic since it is possible to find all the thermal floors, from the warm valleys of the Magdalena River and the Cauca River, to the impressive snows of the Nevado del Ruiz. Most of Caldas is a mountainous region and recognized for its landscapes and the kindness of its people.

IMPORTANT DATA

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CAPITAL

MANIZALES

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POPULATION

993.870

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GENTILICIO

CALDENSE

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SURFACE AREA

7.888 km²

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GOVERNOR

Henry Gutiérrez Ángel

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OFFICIAL WEBSITE

www.caldas.gov.co

Map of the Department of Caldas

Follow the municipalities of Caldas located on the map:

Map by: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA

SUBREGIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CALDAS

The department of Caldas has 6 subregions which are:

• Alto Occidente
• Alto Oriente
• Bajo Occidente
• Centro Sur
• Magdalena Caldense
• Norte Caldense

MUNICIPALITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CALDAS

The department of Caldas has 27 municipalities listed below in their respective subregion:

Alto Occidente

• Filadelfia
• La Merced
• Marmato
• Rio Sucio
• Supía

Alto Oriente

• Manzanares
• Marquetalia
• Marulanda
• Pensilvania

Bajo Occidente

• Anserma
• Belarcázar
• Risaralda
• San José
• Viterbo

Centro Sur

• Chinchiná
• Manizales
• Neira
• Palestina
• Villamaría

Magdalena Caldense

• La Dorada
• Norcasia
• Samaná
• Victoria

Norte Caldense

• Aguadas
• Aranzazu
• Pácora
• Salamina

HISTORY

During the pre-Hispanic period it was inhabited by indigenous Quimbayas, Ansermas, Carrapas, Supías, Pancuras, Pozos, Picaras, Cartamas, Armas, Samanaes and Ameníes.

The main expeditionary was the conquistador Jorge Robledo who arrived in the area in 1939, from 1775 the Antioquian colonization began in the region which would last until 1870; it was erected as a department on April 11, 1905.

An important event occurred in the department on November 13, 1985, when Nevado del Ruíz ravaged the population of Chinchiná in the Caldas department.

RELIEVE

This region of the country has a topography quite cut by elevations of over 4000 msnm such as the Caramanta hills, La Coca, the volcanic massif Los Mellizos; the ridges of Santa Bárbara, Guerrero, Luisa, Miraflores, Aranzazu; the highlands of Mina, La Perdida, Corozal, Tres Marías, De las Cruces; the hill of Tíboles; the snow-capped peaks of Santa Isabel, El Cisne, El Ruíz, Tolima, Quindío; the páramos of Herveo or Aguacatal, San Félix, El Boquerón.

HIDROGRAFÍA

It is a department that has two hydrographic basins: that of the Magdalena River where the Purnio, Doña Juana, La Miel, Samaná Sur rivers flow in, and that of the Cauca River where the San Francisco, Campoalegre, Chinchiná, Risaralda, Supía, Arma rivers flow in, among the most outstanding ones.

CLIMA

It is a department that, given the characteristics of its topography, presents altitude climate or thermal floors with well-marked periods of high rainfall and long periods of drought.

ECONOMÍA

The department stands out in the agricultural aspect by its coffee production, but in recent years it has been decreasing; other agricultural products are yuca, rice, soy, and sugarcane; livestock is hindered by the ruggedness of its terrain; the exploitation of gold, silver, and coal are the main representatives of the department’s mining; the industry is represented by textile production and cement.

Another important economic aspect of the department is tourism, given its beautiful landscapes.

RESERVAS NATURALES

In the Caldas department, there is a natural reserve:

• The Los Nevados National Natural Park.

HIMNO

Lyrics:

Guillermo Ceballos Espinosa

Music: Guillermo Ceballos Espinosa

CHORUS
Long live Caldas! Splendid region;
of glorious virtues a rich caudal
of Colombia a model that marks
the rhythm of its triumphant march.

I
Descendants of brave caste;
of the Andes magnificent light,
we are a race where life burns
with flashes of science and health.

II
Hail Caldas pioneering region
of fertile progress garden;
hail cradle of noble race
of Colombia most faithful parcel.