DEPARTMENT OF THE CESAR

 

The capital: ValleduparSurface22.925km2 Population1’053.123 Hab (Projection DANE 2005)Density43.94 Hab/Km2TheCapitalValledupar – 365.548 Hab ((Projection DANE 2005) 

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 

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  

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 Cesar

Pailitas Pelaya Pueblo Bello Río De Oro

Robles (La Paz) San Alberto San Diego San Martín Tamalameque

PHYSIOGRAPHYIn 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.

HYDROGRAPHYRivers 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. 

CLIMATEThe 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. 

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.

ROAD LINKSThe 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. 

DEPARTMENTAL SYMBOLSFlag of Cesar's DepartmentThe 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). 

FAIRS AND HOLIDAYS

ValleduparFestival VallenatoAgustín CodazziFestival de Música Vallenata en GuitarraBecerrilFestival de la PaletillaEl CopeyFiesta de la Palma AfricanaEl PasoFestival Mi Pedazo de AcordeónSan DiegoFiesta de Versos y CancionesTamalamequeFestival de la Tambora

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

VALLENATO´S FAIRThe 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.  

 

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.

Group MembersLuis Soler