Cuítiva

Cuítiva
Municipality and town
Church of Cuítiva
Flag
Location of the municipality and town of Cuítiva in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Country	Colombia
Department	Boyacá Department
Province	Sugamuxi Province
Founded	19 January 1550
Founded by	Juan de San Martín
Government
• Mayor	Segundo Aldemar Toca Suárez (2020-2023)
Area
• Municipality and town	43 km2 (17 sq mi)
• Urban	3.6 km2 (1.4 sq mi)
Elevation	2,750 m (9,020 ft)
Population  (2015)
• Municipality and town	1,906
• Density	44/km2 (110/sq mi)
• Urban	218
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Website	Official website

Cuítiva is a town and municipality in the Sugamuxi Province, part of the Colombian department of Boyacá. The urban centre is situated on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense at an altitude of 2,750 metres (9,020 ft) and a distance of 85 kilometres (53 mi) from the department capital Tunja. The altitudes of the municipality range from 2,727 metres (8,947 ft) to 3,200 metres (10,500 ft) and it borders Iza in the north, Sogamoso in the east, Aquitania in the west and Tota in the south.^[1]

Etymology[edit]

The name Cuítiva is derived from Muysccubun and means "Similarity to the chief".^[2]

History[edit]

The area of Cuítiva before the Spanish conquest was inhabited by the Muisca, organized in their loose Muisca Confederation. Nearby iraca of Sugamuxi ruled over Cuítiva.

Modern Cuítiva was founded by Juan de San Martín on January 19, 1550.^[1]

On the central square a monument honouring messenger god in the religion of the Muisca; Bochica has been erected.

Economy[edit]

Main economical activities of Cuítiva are agriculture; potatoes, peas, wheat, maize and Welsh onions and livestock farming.^[1]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cuítiva.

5°35′N 72°58′W / 5.583°N 72.967°W / 5.583; -72.967