Antioquia Department
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Deparment of Colombia | |||||
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| Motto: New Antioquia, a Home for Life (Spanish: Antioquia nueva, un hogar para la vida) |
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| Anthem: Himno de Antioquia | |||||
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| Established | 1826 |
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| Region | Andean Region | ||||
| Capital | Medellín | ||||
| Number of Municipalities | 125 | ||||
| Governor - Governor's Political Party |
Anibal Gaviria [[]] |
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| Area Total - Land - Water (% of total) |
Ranked 6 63,612 km² km² km² (%) |
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| Population - Total (2005) - Density |
Ranked 2 5,671,689[1] 91.5/km² |
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| ISO_Code | CO-ANT | ||||
| Goverment's Website: www.gobant.gov.co |
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Antioquia is one of the 32 Departments of the Republic of Colombia located in the central northwestern part of this country with a narrow section that borders the Caribbean sea however, most of its territory is mountainous with some important valleys, part of the Andes mountain range. Antioquia has been part of many territorial divisions of former countries created over the present day territory of Colombia and prior to the constitution of 1886, Antioquia and the other states were sovereign governments in their own right.
The department covers an area of 63,612 km² (24,427 sq mi), and has an estimated population of 5,819,358 (2006 estimate). Antioquia borders with the Cordoba Department and the Caribbean Sea to the north, Chocó Department to the west, to the east it borders the departments of Bolivar, Santander and Boyaca, and to the south the departments of Caldas and Risaralda.
Medellín is Antioquia's capital city, and the second largest in the country. Other important towns are Santa Fe de Antioquia, the old capital located on the Cauca, and Puerto Berrío on the Magdalena.
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[edit] People
The local inhabitants of Antioquia are known as antioqueños. Of the five main regional groups in Colombia, the predominant group in Antioquia are known as paisa, referring to those living in the Paisa region, which covers most of Antioquia, as well as the departments of Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío.
[edit] Geography
Antioquia is predominantly mountainous, crossed by the Cordillera Central and the Cordillera Occidental of the Andes. The Cordillera Central, further divides to form the Aburrá valley, in which the capital Medellín is located. The Cordillera Central forms the plateaus of Santa Rosa de Osos and Rionegro.
Despite 80% of the department's territory being mountainous, Antioquia also has a coast on the Caribbean Sea, in the lowland area of the Urabá. This area has a tropical climate and is of high strategical importance due to its location.
[edit] Administrative divisions
[edit] Regions and Municipalities
Antioquia is divided into 9 subregiones to facilitate the Department's administration. These 9 regions contain a total of 125 municipalities. The 9 subregiones with its municipalitues are:
| Southwestern Antioquia | Eastern Antioquia | Northeastern Antioquia |
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| Northern Antioquia | Western Antioquia | Bajo Cauca Antioquia |
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| Magdalena Medio Antioquia | Urabá Antioquia | Medellín Metropolitan Area |
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[edit] References and notes
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. The article is available here.
[edit] External links
Antioquia travel guide from Wikitravel
