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Founded date: September 27, 1819

Name of the founder (s): Pre-Conquest Town - There is no foundation date

Historical review:

The name of Duitama is of Chibcha origin, it corresponds to a village of Indians inhabited by settlers of Muisca origin ruled by the Cacique Tundama, a word that changed to Duitama, absolute and powerful lord who had as tributary chiefs the Chiefs Onzaga, Soatá, Chitagoto , Susacón or Cabita, Icabuco, Lupachoque, Sátiva, Tutazá and Cerinza. The natives lived in huts, looking for the heights of the plain of the Indians, Tigua today hills of La Milagrosa, Cargua, La Tolosa, San José (La Alacranera) and Tocogua.

In the conquest, there was an immense decrease in the population due to death in combat and the flight of others, after having been subjected to humiliating treatments. The abandonment of the fertile lands by the indigenous people, attracted the immediate occupation of the conquerors, who initiated an urban planning according to the regulations issued by the Spanish crown.

The first educational missionaries who arrived in Duitama were those of the order of Santo Domingo (1556), they consecrated the place as a doctrinal center until 1775, when it was erected as a Parish.

In the first half of the 20th century, Duitama was strengthened as an eminently agricultural region and milling companies such as Molino Tundama were consolidated and later the Molinos del Sol and el Cóndor, and also the Bavaría Factory. These events, along with the arrival of the railroad in 1923 and the completion of the highway to Bogotá, marked an important point in the development of the local economy.

As of 1950, the purely agricultural activity is modified by the industrial occupation of the region, factories and industries such as Paz del Río, Coca-Cola, Postobon-lux, Cementos Boyacá, Metalúrgica, Sofasa, Termopaipa, Mainz, and others, generated jobs and displacement of rural residents to the urban area of ​​the city. Likewise, the creation of the Industrial Citadel (Cooperativa Industrial de Boyacá CIDEB Ltda.), Classified as an Industrial Park by the Ministry of Economic Development, and the importance of the Transport union stand out, which from the 80's took on an unusual importance in the economy of our municipality.





Duitama is located on the foothills of the Eastern mountain range, within its main orographic points the moors of Pan de Azúcar and the moors of La Russia stand out with heights that exceed 3800 meters above sea level, also the Cuchilla de Laguna Seca (sector where the radio antennas are located), the Morro de la Russia (where the transmission towers and antennas are located), Cerro de Pan de Azúcar, Morro de La Cruz, Morro de Peña Blanca, Peña Negra knife (where the Military Base).



In the urban area, the tutelary hills of La Milagrosa, La Tolosa and San José (La Alacranera) are identified, as well as cerro las lajas and perimeter hills such as Cerro Las Cruces and Cerro Cargua.



In the Jurisdiction of the Municipality of Duitama, an area of ​​paramos ecosystem made up of Pan de Azúcar and Russia is located. This páramo ecosystem of the Andes mountain system gives rise to an exceptional hydrographic star, feeding the rivers that bathe regions corresponding to the departments of Boyacá and Santander.



The main rivers and streams of the Municipality are:



Chicamocha River that serves as the municipal boundary of the southern side, Surba River that serves as the boundary of the western side of the municipality along with the La Zarza stream, Chiticuy River, La Russia River, Chontal River or Huertas and Chontales River or Guacha.



Some of the main streams are:

Q. La Zarza, Q. Boyacogua, Q. de Becerras, Q. Ranchería, Q. La Parroquia, Q. Los Zorros, Las Siras, Q. El Hato, Q. Los Tobales, Q. Honda las Flores, Q. El Chorro, Q. Frailejón, Q. Las Minas, Q. Los Patos, Q. Las Animas, Q. La Esperanza, Q. Parrales, Q. Chorro Blanco, Q. Los Cacaos, La Osa, Q. Las Ceras, Q. Micaela, Q. Masorquilla, Q. Agua Clara, Q. Hoya Grande, Q. La Laja, Q. El Chochal, Q. Mastín, Q. Matachines, Q. Martínez, Q. Pocitos, Q. El Papayo.



Duitama has a relative humidity of 70%, with increased rains in the months of April and October, which decrease its rainfall in the months of March, May and November; the other months of the year are generally dry. Regarding hydrography, the municipality of Duitama has a large number of hydrographic tributaries, among which we can highlight the Gallinazo river that runs through a large part of the Duitama Valley, the Surba river, which is born in the Pan de Azúcar lake, serving as the boundary between Duitama and Paipa and flowing into the Chicamocha River. The paths of Aguatendida and Tocogua are crossed by the Chiticuy River; joining to it the Boyacogua stream that is born in the Russian moor and flows into Chiticuy. We can also highlight the following lagoons: Laguna de Cachalá, Lagunas de Peña Negra, Aguablanca, Pan de Azúcar and Laguna seca, located to the north, in the upper part of the páramo de la Russia and we can also mention the hot springs of Tocogua that relieve various diseases. The life zones that occur in the Municipality of Duitama are: • Montane Humid Forest • Lower Montane Humid Forest • Very Humid Montane Forest • Lower Montane Dry Forest • Sub-Andean Pluvial Páramo.



Duitama is one of the Industrial and Craft centers in the region. Our city is famous for the fruit orchards of apple, pear, peach, curubas, and plums. They are also harvested on their lands; potatoes, wheat, corn, beans, barley and vegetables. As the head of the Tundama province, Duitama is recognized for its artisan workshops that produce everything from fine and elaborate baskets, through macramé shawls to rustic colonial style furniture. The drive of its industries has made this city one of the most important in the construction and assembly of bodies, being recognized and awarded nationally and internationally for its excellent quality. The commerce sector is an important part of supplying the region, having the highest productivity per employed person. The industries dedicated to the lamination report a significant index of injuries by accidents of work; These circumstances, together with the high accident rate on the roads, have a noticeable impact on health determinants. An important factor in the local economy is transportation. The municipality is a convergent point of communication routes with different populations in the Department and outside of it; it is the center and take-off of the various highways of the Colombian East. The vehicle fleet owned by the city is classified as the best in the department and one of the first in the national sphere. Freight transportation is coordinated by the companies based in the jurisdiction of Boyacá and Casanare.



Communication channels

Land port from the south central highway from the North - Bogota-Tunja- Paipa From the north Carretera Central del Norte communicates with Santa Rosa de Viterbo - Belen - Soata-Malaga- Pamplona - Cúcuta - Venezuela Through the East Nobsa - Tibasosa -Sogamoso- Yopal Casanare - Arauca By the West Carretera de Torres Charalá - San Gil- Bucaramanga





Culture parties

Among them we find the most important that are celebrated in the time of the Three Wise Men (January 6), the Fairs and Festivities of the Pearl of Boyacá, where different types of events are held such as folkloric and cultural exhibitions in different places of the city , Artisan Exhibition, and the presentation of national and international orchestras every night until the burial of Loco Pérez at 12 am on the first holiday Monday in January, thus symbolizing the end of the festivities, this event takes place in the Park of Los Libertadores.

One of the main attractions of the festivities is the so-called Youth Night in which presentations by youth groups and bands of great collective influence stand out, since you can find different cultures about rock in general (Hard Rock, Grunge and Metal usually).

Among these, the participation of bands such as: Doctor Krápula, Ekymosis and Tributo a KISS have stood out.

. In the participations of the municipality's bands in the metal genre, the following stand out: Necromansy, Dark Side, Thundarkma, Decadencia Cero, WAR FIRE, Heimdall God, Black Masses, among others.

. Other bands that have participated in various musical genres are: Liquid, Anxiety, Los Hispanos, Los Melódicos de Venezuela, Wilfrido Vargas, Jorge Celedón, Rikarena, Los Tupamaros, etc.

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