3. LOCATION, EXTENSION AND LIMITS - TO STOP-
CESAR
The Department of the Cesar is placed in the north of the
country, in the plain of the Caribbean; located between the
07º41 ' 16 " and 10º52 ' 14 " of north latitude and the 72º53 '
27 " and 74º08 ' 28 " of length west. It possesses a surface
of22.925 km2 what represents 2.0 % of the national territory.
It borders for the North on Magdalena's department and La
Guajira, for the East on the Republic of Venezuela and the
department of Nortede Santander, for the South on the
departments of Norte de Santander and Santander, and for
the West on the departments of Bolivar and Magdalena
4.
5. HISTORY
The territory was lived principally by aborigens euparíes in Upar's
Valley and guatapuríes in the valley of the river Cesar, between
which it could find Orejones of the family tupe, acanayutos of Los
Motilones and alcoholados of the chimila. Ambrosio Alfínger
conquered Upar's Valley in 1532. In 1813, Maria de la Concepción
Loperena proclaimed the in dependence of Upar's Valley.
On December 21, 1967 the department of the Cesar was created. It
owes its name to the river Cesar that it was known by the
aborigens by Pompatao's name, which there means " master of all
the rivers ". Valledupar was founded by the Spanish captain Don
Hernando de Santana on January 6, 1550
6. ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION
The department of the Cesar is divided in 25
municipalities, 165 corregimientos, 3 policeman's
inspections, as well as, numerous hamlets and populated
sites
MUNICIPALITIES OF CESAR'S DEPARTMENT
Valledupar Aguachica Agustín Codazzi Astrea Becerril
Bosconia Chimichagua Chiriguaná Curumaní El Copey
El Paso Gamarra González La Gloria La Jagua Ibirico
Manaure Balcony Of The
Pailitas Pelaya Pueblo Bello Río De Oro
Cesar
Robles (La Paz) San Alberto San Diego San Martín Tamalameque
7. PHYSIOGRAPHY
In the territory of the Cesar one distinguishes four definite well
areas; the first one, in the northern part, corresponds to the Sierra
Nevada de Santa Marta, the highest mountainous clump of the
country with heights that exceed 5.700 m on the level of the sea;
the average part it is lived by aborigens arhuacos. The second
one is situated in the eastern part, ofmountainous country of Los
Motilonesor Perijá, prolongation of the Oriental mountain chain,
which separates the department of the Republic of Venezuela and
of the department of Nortede Santander, with heights up to 3.000
m on the level of the sea.
The third one, in the western part, is the bordering area to the
river Magdalena, which is characterized by its numerous marshes
fed by the periodic overflows of the river, finally the fourth one is
the area formed by the extensive central plains bathed by the
rivers Cesar and Ariguaní.
8.
9. HYDROGRAPHY
Rivers and minor currents water the departmental
territory of the Cesar in different directions; between the
principal ones the Magdalena can be mentioned, Cesar,
Lebrija, Ariguaní, Badillo, Donachuí, Guatapurí, Manaure,
Maria Angola, Magiriaimo and Cáchiradel Espiritu Santo.
Between the numerous marshes placed in its jurisdiction
that of Zapatosa is outlined, formed by the riverCesar,
and others as those of Cascajo, Combú, Chimichagua,
Dona Maria, Guamalito, Nata de Palma, Morales,
Panchuiche, PitalSahaya, Saloa and Santo Domingo.
10.
11. CLIMATE
The department of the Cesar presents variety of
temperatures due to the fact that there are lands in the
different thermal floors, which go from hotly ardently
and stifling on the banks of the river Magdalena and
central plains, up to the cold summits of the Sierra
Nevada de Santa Marta and the mountainous country
of Los Motilones. The average temperature of most of
the territory is 28°C. Which shares with the
departments of La Guajira and Magdalena the national
natural park of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
12. ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
At present it is a very important department from the
agricultural, cattle and mining point of view benefited by his
geographical location, the good quality of the soils and to the
potentials of adequacy of these lands by means of the irrigation.
There takes place African palm, traditional maize, maize
technify, rice I act rashly, rice mechanized
dryness, sorghum, coffee, cane, yucca, cotton, cocoa, sesame
and banana.
The bovine ranching is an activity of great importance thanks to
the extensive plains. The department is outlined for its
developments of coal located in the municipalities of The Jagua
de Ibirico, Chiriguaná, Becerril and El Paso. Developments of oil
exist in addition in Aguachica's municipality. Valledupar is
constituted in the commercial epicentre for the exchange and
supply of products, most of which it comes from the agricultural
sector.
13. ROAD LINKS
The department of the Cesar relies on a main road, that its
reports the principal populations with the cities of Santa
Marta, Bucaramanga and Bogota D.C., other one connects
to the capital with the territory of La Guajira and the
Republic of Venezuela. It possesses air service across the
airport Valledupar's "Alfonso Lopez" and tracks in other
populations. The fluvial navigation is in use in the Cesar
and Magdalena rivers.
14. DEPARTMENTAL SYMBOLS
Flag of Cesar's Department
The Flag of the Cesar has two (2) colors: Green in bands
superior and low and White in the central band, the
Green color symbolizes the vegetation, hope of the
fertile soil of its fields and the White is the symbol of
Peace that we expect to have in these lands.
Shield of Cesar'sDepartment
Anthem of Cesar's Department
Lyrics: Nabonazar Cogollo Ayala (Created in
June, 1997)
Music: Teacher Manuel Avendaño Castañeda
(gave the rythm in October, 1997).
15. FAIRS AND HOLIDAYS
Valledupar
Festival Vallenato
Agustín Codazzi
Festival de Música Vallenata en Guitarra
Becerril
Festival de la Paletilla
El Copey
Fiesta de la Palma Africana
El Paso
Festival Mi Pedazo de Acordeón
San Diego
Fiesta de Versos y Canciones
Tamalameque
Festival de la Tambora
16. TOURISM
The department of the Cesar offers innumerable
tourist attractions from the natural, cultural and
scientific point of view. Between the principal tourist
places of the department it is necessary to mention
Valledupar placed in the spurs of the Sierra Nevada
de Santa Marta, which impressive beaks are spied
from the city; the villages Pueblo Bello and San
Sebastian, placed in the Sierra Nevada de Santa
Marta and lived by aborigens arhuacos; the natural
resorts of Pozo Hurtado in the river Guatapurí, La
Mina in the Badillo and Zapatosa's marsh
17.
18. VALLENATO´S FAIR
The Festival of the Legend Vallenata is the great holiday of the
popular culture that is celebrated in Valledupar, the capital of
the department of The Cesar, at the end of April, in the
traditional dates 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, and for exception in any
other one that its authorities decide. It is defined as a contest
that it works and tends for the defense and diffusion of the
expression folclor and popular known as Music Vallenata in
his four airs, Paseo, Merengue, Puya and son.
The importance that national has had from its creation the
Festival of the Legend Vallenata is undeniable, not only for the
presence of the President of the Republic and some of
members of the Ministerial Office in the acts of
inauguration, every year, but for the unusual success that the
music vallenata receives every day. Near 400 journalists who
represent an approximate number of 200 mass media of the
whole country and some of international character take part in
the coverage of this event.
19.
20. The Festival has served for the national and
international projection, first of our region, and after
this music and its interpreters, since our musical
embassies have come up to
Spain, France, Germany, as well as to The United
States, Mexico, Venezuela and Peru. At the end of
December, 1999, a group of musical children headed
by the ex-chairwoman of the Foundation Festival of
the Legend Vallenata Consuelo Araújo Noguera
(q.e.p.d) and the main musical Andrew " The Turko "
Gil, was entertaining the Christmas party in the White
House next to the President Bill Clinton, who then
would mention his wonderful experience hearing "
The Children of the Vallenato " during his visit to
Cartagena (Colombia) in August, 2000.
