Guatape is a small city and municipality in northern Colombia, located on the territory of the Department of Antioquia, which is part of the East Antioquia subregion. The city is located 89 km (along the highway) east of Medellin, the administrative center of the department, and 218 km northwest of the country's capital, Bogota.
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| Guatape Colombia |
The area of the municipality is 70 km², the population is 6470 people (data for 2015).
One of the most colorful and original cities in South America, Guatape every year receives more and more tourists from around the world.
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| Guatape Colombia |
Geographical Position
Guatape is located in the southeastern part of the department, in the highlands of the Cordillera Central of the Colombian Andes. The average altitude of the town is 2000 m above sea level. Guatape is located on the banks of the picturesque reservoir Peignol-Guatape, created in the late 1960s. for a hydroelectric dam.
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| Guatape Colombia |
Guatape: Historical Background
Before the conquistadors reached the area in the 16th century, the area was inhabited by indigenous peoples. Some of the tribes were controlled by a cacique (Cacique Quechua - leader, leader of the tribe) named Guatape. The settlement from which the modern city grew was founded on October 4, 1811. It was named after an authoritative leader. In the past, the city had another name, "La Ceja de Guatape" ("The Eyebrow of Guatape"). In September 1867, the township was declared a municipality.
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| Guatape Colombia |
Throughout its history, Guatape has undergone numerous changes. Initially, it was a predominantly farming town, with an economy based on livestock, agriculture, and mining. In the 1970s Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM, a housing and utility company founded in 1955) built a large hydroelectric complex here. This major investment project had a huge impact on the social, economic, political, environmental and cultural development of the entire region. With the construction of the dam, Guatape became one of the most important power generation centers in Colombia.