Quindío Department
Encyclopedia
Quindío is a department
of Colombia
. It is in the western central region of the country, crossed by the Andes
mountains. Its capital is Armenia
. It is famous for the quality of the coffee plantations, colorful architecture, benign weather, variety of hotel accommodations and touristic landmarks. This department is located in a strategic area, in the center of the triangle formed by the three main cities of the country: Bogotá
, Medellín
and Cali
. Quindio is the second smallest Colombian department (0.2% of the national territory) with 12 municipalities. Ethnographically and culturally it belongs to the Paisa region
.
until the 10th century B.C. At the time of Spanish conquest the area was inhabited by indigenous people of Carib descent known as the Pijao tribes. The native population was gradually reduced due to slavery and armed confrontations, causing the territory to remain mostly uninhabited over the following centuries. At the present time, only a small population of nearly 2000 Amerindians remains in an indigenous reservation near La Tebaida
.
The first settlement to be founded in the area was Salento
in 1842. In the 19th century northern peasants from Antioquia set out to settle in the area and their goal was to stay there permanently in a process known as Colonización antioqueña (Antioquian Colonisation
). Due to the inaccessibility of the territory and the lack of roads, trade and communications were made through mule
caravans (arriería).
The capital city, Armenia was founded on October 14, 1889 by colonists led by Jesus Maria Ocampo. In 1905, the old Department of Antioquia was partitioned into two, giving rise to the new Department of Caldas, which at the time included the modern department of Risaralda
. In 1908 the territory, then in jurisdiction of the Cauca Department
, was annexed to Caldas department. From 1948, this was one of the most affected departments by an armed conflict known as La Violencia
, with casualties and damages to property in all municipalities.
In 1966, (January 16) it's separated as an autonomous department itself. The project for the creation of the new department was developed by the local politician Ancizar López
who became the first governor. In 1999 the capital city and many villages and towns were partially destroyed by an earthquake
. (See 1999 Armenia earthquake) The rebuilding was financed by national and international donations managed by a public organization known as FOREC (acronym for Fund for Reconstruction of Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis
).
Other relevant events in the history of the Quindio department are:
also see list of Governors of the Department of Quindío.
In order of population:
) 5.150 m high. The lowest area is the valley of la Vieja River
, 1.100 m high.
There are in this department about 1.845 km² (0.712358482603227 sq mi) of mountain landscapes, with many Rainforest
s and Guadua
bamboo forests. The ground is enriched with ancient volcanic eruptions, rising its fertility, there are also many rivers and minor water streams, including the Quindío River
and the Cocora valley located in this river origin.
The weather has a wide range, given the variations on termic floors. It has a high annual rain precipitation (around 2500 mm/year) because the humidity of winds from the Pacific Ocean
stopped by the Andes
. There are two rainy seasons (April and November). The average of temperature is between 24°C in La Vieja river and 16°C in Salento.
With law 61 of 1985, the Colombian Congress adopted Quindío Wax Palm Tree [ Ceroxylon quindiuense
(Karsten) Wendl.], a local endangered species of high-altitude-adapted palm tree, as the National Tree. As ratified on September 16 for the current president of Colombia, Belisario Betancur
, in the following terms: "1º. It's declared as national tree and symbol of our fatherland the species commonly known as quindio wax palm tree, scientific name ceroxylon quindiuense. 2º. National Government Is faculted to buy as many lands as needed to create wildlife sanctuaries with the purpose of preserve this national symbol and its natural environment. 3º. Chopping down the wax palm tree is forbidden and punished with fine and jail"."
The wax palm tree was nearly extincted for the extraction of the resinous substance that it exudes. Furthermore, its leaves were widely used for the celebration of Holy Week procession
s, especially Palm Sunday
.
. The department belongs to the Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis
which is the centre of production and export of the highest quality coffee in Colombia. Plantain
, cassava
, Salentune potato
and sugarcane
are also cultivated, mostly for consume in the local markets.
In recent years, due to instability in the international coffee market, and attacks on the coffee fields by plagues such as Roya (Hemileia vastatrix
) and Broca (Coffee borer beetle
) (Hypothenemus hampei), interest has been directed to alternative options like citrus
fruits and macadamia
nuts. There is, however a growing tourism industry based in the interest of traditional peasant culture, natural resources, and typical landscapes.
Nevertheless, since the Tourism industry is seasonal and the agriculture is debilitated, there is lack of steady jobs and sources of income, and as result the department has the highest rates of unemployment
in the country (data from the National department of Statistics DANE 2003).
Among other events:
Quindio is the natural habitat of 520 species of birds and about 60 species of mammals. Many of them are endemisms. The area has the largest number of heliconia
species in the world and a large numbers of species of orchids, mainly of the genera cattleya
, odontoglossum
, miltonia
, phragmipedium
and peristeria
. Due to agricultural activities the amount of natural forests typical of the area, such the páramo
, the cloud forest
are decreasing progressively. This has caused that many of the endemic species are threatened, endangered or critically endangered. Some of them are:
Departments of Colombia
Colombia is an unitary republic formed by thirty-two departments and a Capital District . Each department has a Governor and a Department Assembly , elected by popular vote for a four-year period. The governor cannot be re-elected in consecutive periods...
of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. It is in the western central region of the country, crossed by the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
mountains. Its capital is Armenia
Armenia, Colombia
Armenia is the capital of Quindío, a department in Colombia. The city is located at coordinates 4.5170° north, 75.6830° west, 290 kilometers west of Bogotá. Armenia is a mid-size city located between Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, the 3 largest Colombian cities. The city's area code for phone calls is...
. It is famous for the quality of the coffee plantations, colorful architecture, benign weather, variety of hotel accommodations and touristic landmarks. This department is located in a strategic area, in the center of the triangle formed by the three main cities of the country: Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, Medellín
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
and Cali
Calì
Calì, also written in English as Cali, is an Italian surname, widespread mainly in the Ionian side of Sicily.For the surname Calì is assumed the origin of the Greek word kalos , or from its Sanskrit root kali, "time."The surname refers to:...
. Quindio is the second smallest Colombian department (0.2% of the national territory) with 12 municipalities. Ethnographically and culturally it belongs to the Paisa region
Paisa Region
The Paisas are a people who inhabit a region over the northwest Colombia in the Andes.The region is formed by the departments of Antioquia, Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío. Some regions of Valle del Cauca Department and Tolima Department belong to the cultural identity of paisas...
.
History
Before the Spanish invasion the entire area was inhabited by the peoples of the Quimbaya civilizationQuimbaya civilization
The Quimbaya civilization is a South American civilization, noted for spectacular gold work characterized by technical accuracy and detailed designs. The majority of the gold work is made in tumbaga alloy, with 30% copper, which imparts beautiful color tonalities to the pieces...
until the 10th century B.C. At the time of Spanish conquest the area was inhabited by indigenous people of Carib descent known as the Pijao tribes. The native population was gradually reduced due to slavery and armed confrontations, causing the territory to remain mostly uninhabited over the following centuries. At the present time, only a small population of nearly 2000 Amerindians remains in an indigenous reservation near La Tebaida
La Tebaida, Quindío
La Tebaida is a municipality in the western part of the department of Quindío, Colombia. It is located 17 km southwest of the departmental capital Armenia.In 2005 it had an estimated population of 30,300, of which 27,000 live in the main urban zone....
.
The first settlement to be founded in the area was Salento
Salento, Quindío
Salento is a town and municipality in the north-east of the department of Quindío, Colombia. The municipality covers an area of 377.67 km2. It was the first settlement in Quindío of the modern era, and the first municipality founded in the department. The town of Salento itself is located 24 km...
in 1842. In the 19th century northern peasants from Antioquia set out to settle in the area and their goal was to stay there permanently in a process known as Colonización antioqueña (Antioquian Colonisation
Monument to Effort
The Monument to Effort or Monumento al Esfuerzo is a large sculpture realized byColombian artist Rodrigo Arenas Betancur in the department of Quindío as a memorial for the foundation of the city and the antioquian colonisation that made it possible.This monument is inspired by the painting...
). Due to the inaccessibility of the territory and the lack of roads, trade and communications were made through mule
Mule
A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. Horses and donkeys are different species, with different numbers of chromosomes. Of the two F1 hybrids between these two species, a mule is easier to obtain than a hinny...
caravans (arriería).
The capital city, Armenia was founded on October 14, 1889 by colonists led by Jesus Maria Ocampo. In 1905, the old Department of Antioquia was partitioned into two, giving rise to the new Department of Caldas, which at the time included the modern department of Risaralda
Risaralda
Risaralda may refer to:* Risaralda Department, in Colombia* Risaralda River* Risaralda, Caldas a town and municipality in Caldas Department...
. In 1908 the territory, then in jurisdiction of the Cauca Department
Cauca Department
Cauca is a Department of Colombia. Located in the south-western part of the country, facing the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Valle del Cauca Department to the north, Tolima Department to the northeast, Huila Department to the east and the Nariño Department to the south, covering a total area of...
, was annexed to Caldas department. From 1948, this was one of the most affected departments by an armed conflict known as La Violencia
La Violencia
La Violencia is a period of civil conflict in the Colombian countryside between supporters of the Colombian Liberal Party and the Colombian Conservative Party, a conflict which took place roughly from 1948 to 1958 ....
, with casualties and damages to property in all municipalities.
In 1966, (January 16) it's separated as an autonomous department itself. The project for the creation of the new department was developed by the local politician Ancizar López
Ancizar López
Ancízar López López was a Colombian politician, born in Quindio. He was a congressman, and as senator he developed the project for the creation of the Quindio Department, becoming its first governor when created....
who became the first governor. In 1999 the capital city and many villages and towns were partially destroyed by an earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
. (See 1999 Armenia earthquake) The rebuilding was financed by national and international donations managed by a public organization known as FOREC (acronym for Fund for Reconstruction of Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis
Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis
Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis , also known as Coffee Triangle is a part of the Colombian Paisa region which is famous for growing and production of a majority of the Colombian coffee, considered by some as the best coffee in the world. There are three departments in the area: Caldas, Quindío and...
).
Other relevant events in the history of the Quindio department are:
- 1942: The opening of the first beerBeerBeer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
factory (BAVARIA) - 1947: The opening of the first Coffee roaster industry (Café Luz)
- 1954: The most successful coffee harvest in the history of the country (“bonanza cafetera”)
- 1961: In response to the serious problem of violence related with the bipartisan political conflictLa ViolenciaLa Violencia is a period of civil conflict in the Colombian countryside between supporters of the Colombian Liberal Party and the Colombian Conservative Party, a conflict which took place roughly from 1948 to 1958 ....
the national government created the 8th division of the Army (octava brigada) and the Cisneros Military base to operate in this area. - 1962: Soldiers of the 8th division kill the most important leader of the violent armed groups of the area Teofilo Arias Varon A.K.A “chispas”.
- 1964: Opening of the Metalmechanic Industries of Quindio
- 1964: The Regional Autonomous Corporation is created to protect the local environment
- 1965: Opening of the Soft drinks factory Gaseosas Regional (with production of pineapple, kola and chocolate flavored pop sodas)
- 1966: The pyramidPyramidA pyramid is a structure whose outer surfaces are triangular and converge at a single point. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilateral, or any polygon shape, meaning that a pyramid has at least three triangular surfaces...
al cathedralCathedralA cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
to the Immaculate ConceptionImmaculate ConceptionThe Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
with post-modern architecture is built. - 1967: Ivan Botero Gomez enterprise Starts operations
- 1968: Is murdered Jaime Ramirez Valencia.
- 1996: Was kidnapped Delio Arango Amaya
also see list of Governors of the Department of Quindío.
Municipalities
- ArmeniaArmenia, ColombiaArmenia is the capital of Quindío, a department in Colombia. The city is located at coordinates 4.5170° north, 75.6830° west, 290 kilometers west of Bogotá. Armenia is a mid-size city located between Bogotá, Medellín and Cali, the 3 largest Colombian cities. The city's area code for phone calls is...
, capital city. Named after the CaucasusCaucasusThe Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
republic of ArmeniaArmeniaArmenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. - Calarca. Named after CaciqueCaciqueCacique is a title derived from the Taíno word for the pre-Columbian chiefs or leaders of tribes in the Bahamas, Greater Antilles, and the northern Lesser Antilles...
(Chief) Calarca of the PijaoPijaoThe Pijao are an indigenous people of Colombia.-Ethnography:The Pijao or Pijaos were a loose federation of Amerindians living in the region of Tolima -Colombia and other territories...
. - La Tebaida. Named after the ThebaidThebaidThe Thebaid or Thebais is the region of ancient Egypt containing the thirteen southernmost nomes of Upper Egypt, from Abydos to Aswan. It acquired its name from its proximity to the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes....
region of ancient EgyptAncient EgyptAncient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
. - Circasia. Named after the CaucasusCaucasusThe Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
region of CircassiaCircassiaCircassia was an independent mountainous country located in the Caucasus region of Eurasia and was the largest and most important country in the Caucasus. Circassia was located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea...
. - MontenegroMontenegro, QuindíoMontenegro is a municipality in the western part of the department of Quindío, Colombia. It is located 10 km west of the departmental capital Armenia....
. Named after the Balkan republic of MontenegroMontenegroMontenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. - QuimbayaQuimbaya, QuindíoQuimbaya is a town and municipality in the western part of the department of Quindío, Colombia. It is 20 km northwest of the departmental capital Armenia...
. Named after the indigenous Quimbaya civilizationQuimbaya civilizationThe Quimbaya civilization is a South American civilization, noted for spectacular gold work characterized by technical accuracy and detailed designs. The majority of the gold work is made in tumbaga alloy, with 30% copper, which imparts beautiful color tonalities to the pieces...
. - SalentoSalento, QuindíoSalento is a town and municipality in the north-east of the department of Quindío, Colombia. The municipality covers an area of 377.67 km2. It was the first settlement in Quindío of the modern era, and the first municipality founded in the department. The town of Salento itself is located 24 km...
. Named after the SalentoSalentoSalento is the south-eastern extremity of the Apulia region of Italy. It is a sub-peninsula of the main Italian Peninsula, sometimes described as the "heel" of the Italian "boot"...
region in ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. - CordobaCórdoba, QuindíoCórdoba is a municipality in the eastern part of the department of Quindío, Colombia. It is located 24 km southeast of the departmental capital Armenia....
. Named after the AndalusiaAndalusiaAndalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
n city of Cordoba, SpainCórdoba, Spain-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
. - PijaoPijao, QuindíoPijao is a municipality in the south-eastern part of the department of Quindío, Colombia. The township is located 31 km south of the departmental capital Armenia....
. Named after the Amerindian PijaoPijaoThe Pijao are an indigenous people of Colombia.-Ethnography:The Pijao or Pijaos were a loose federation of Amerindians living in the region of Tolima -Colombia and other territories...
federation. - GénovaGénova, QuindíoGénova is a municipality in the southern part of the department of Quindío, Colombia. It is located 52 km south of the departmental capital ArmeniaIn 2005 Génova had an estimated population of 12,600, of which 7,100 live in the main urban zone....
. Named after the Italian city of GenoaGenoaGenoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria.... - BuenavistaBuenavista, QuindíoBuenavista is a municipality in the south-central part of the department of Quindío, Colombia. It is known and named for the spectacular view over the department. The township is located 33 km south of the departmental capital Armenia....
. Named after the Spanish city of Buenavista de ValdaviaBuenavista de ValdaviaBuenavista de Valdavia is a municipality located in the province of Palencia, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 416 inhabitants....
Geography
Most of its surface is occupied for the western face of the Cordillera Central. Highest mountain: Nevado del Quindío, (Snow Mountain of QuindioSnow Mountain of Quindio
The Nevado del Quindío is an inactive volcano located in the Central Cordillera of the Andes in central Colombia. The summit marks the tripoint of the departments of Risaralda, Quindío and Tolima, and is also the highest point of the departments of Risaralda and Quindío. The mountain is one of the...
) 5.150 m high. The lowest area is the valley of la Vieja River
La Vieja River
La Vieja River is a river in the Colombiandepartments of Quindío, Valle del Cauca and Risaralda.It is a major tributary of the Cauca River.The river is formed by the joining of the Quindío River and the...
, 1.100 m high.
There are in this department about 1.845 km² (0.712358482603227 sq mi) of mountain landscapes, with many Rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
s and Guadua
Guadua
Guadua is a Neotropics genus of thorny clumping bamboo, ranging from moderate to very large species. Physically, Guadua angustifolia is noted for being the largest Neotropics bamboo. The genus is similar to Bambusa and is sometimes included in Bambusa...
bamboo forests. The ground is enriched with ancient volcanic eruptions, rising its fertility, there are also many rivers and minor water streams, including the Quindío River
Quindío River
Quindío River is the principal river of the department of Quindío, Colombia. It combines with the Barragán River at the Valle de Maravelez to form La Vieja River, in turn a tributary of the Cauca River.Quindío River has a length of 69 km...
and the Cocora valley located in this river origin.
The weather has a wide range, given the variations on termic floors. It has a high annual rain precipitation (around 2500 mm/year) because the humidity of winds from the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
stopped by the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
. There are two rainy seasons (April and November). The average of temperature is between 24°C in La Vieja river and 16°C in Salento.
Quindío Wax Palm Tree
Ceroxylon quindiuense
Ceroxylon quindiuense , is a palm native to the Andean high altitude valley of Cocora in the department of Quindío, northwest Colombia.-Description:...
(Karsten) Wendl.], a local endangered species of high-altitude-adapted palm tree, as the National Tree. As ratified on September 16 for the current president of Colombia, Belisario Betancur
Belisario Betancur
Belisario Betancur Cuartas is a Colombian statesman, who as a member of the Colombian Conservative Party was President of Colombia from 1982 to 1986.- Biographic data :...
, in the following terms: "1º. It's declared as national tree and symbol of our fatherland the species commonly known as quindio wax palm tree, scientific name ceroxylon quindiuense. 2º. National Government Is faculted to buy as many lands as needed to create wildlife sanctuaries with the purpose of preserve this national symbol and its natural environment. 3º. Chopping down the wax palm tree is forbidden and punished with fine and jail"."
The wax palm tree was nearly extincted for the extraction of the resinous substance that it exudes. Furthermore, its leaves were widely used for the celebration of Holy Week procession
Holy Week procession
A Holy Week procession is an event taking place in Holy Week, most often in a country with traditional Roman Catholic culture.*Palm Sunday: The day when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem....
s, especially Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four Canonical Gospels. ....
.
Economy
Economy is mainly based in the harvest of coffee plant. It is one of the most important producers of Colombian coffeeColombian coffee
Colombian Coffee is a protected designation of origin granted by the European Union that applies to the coffee produced in Colombia. The Colombian coffee has been recognized worldwide as having high quality and distinctive taste...
. The department belongs to the Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis
Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis
Colombian Coffee-Growers Axis , also known as Coffee Triangle is a part of the Colombian Paisa region which is famous for growing and production of a majority of the Colombian coffee, considered by some as the best coffee in the world. There are three departments in the area: Caldas, Quindío and...
which is the centre of production and export of the highest quality coffee in Colombia. Plantain
Plantain
Plantain is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa. The fruit they produce is generally used for cooking, in contrast to the soft, sweet banana...
, cassava
Cassava
Cassava , also called yuca or manioc, a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae native to South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates...
, Salentune potato
Potato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
and sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
are also cultivated, mostly for consume in the local markets.
In recent years, due to instability in the international coffee market, and attacks on the coffee fields by plagues such as Roya (Hemileia vastatrix
Hemileia vastatrix
Hemileia vastatrix is a fungus of the order Uredinales that causes coffee rust, a disease that is devastating to coffee plantations...
) and Broca (Coffee borer beetle
Coffee borer beetle
The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, is a small beetle native to Africa. It is recognised as the most harmful pest to coffee crops worldwide. The insect affects over seventy countries, mainly in Latin America...
) (Hypothenemus hampei), interest has been directed to alternative options like citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
fruits and macadamia
Macadamia
Macadamia is a genus of nine species of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae, with a disjunct distribution native to eastern Australia , New Caledonia and Sulawesi in Indonesia ....
nuts. There is, however a growing tourism industry based in the interest of traditional peasant culture, natural resources, and typical landscapes.
Nevertheless, since the Tourism industry is seasonal and the agriculture is debilitated, there is lack of steady jobs and sources of income, and as result the department has the highest rates of unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
in the country (data from the National department of Statistics DANE 2003).
Tourism
- Quimbaya museumQuimbaya museumQuimbaya Museum is a museum located in Armenia designed by Colombian architect Rogelio Salmona. It displays a large collection of precolumbian artcrafts , about 390 gold objects. 104 pottery, 22 stone sculptures, carved woods, and other issues, mainly from precolumbian Quimbaya civilization, ...
- Colombian National Coffee ParkColombian National Coffee ParkThe Colombian National Coffee Park is a theme park located in the department of Quindío, Colombia, 4 km south-west of the town of Montenegro and 11 km west of the departmental capital city Armenia...
- PANACAPANACAPANACA is a farming theme park that promotes contact between humans and nature, intended for those who live in the city and to create awareness about nature. The park was created in Colombia by a group of businessmen. There are three other parks under construction; one near Bogotá and two...
park - Cocora Valley
- MariposarioMariposarioEl Mariposario is a large outdoors vivarium which forms part of the Jardin Botánico del Quindío , located in the town of Calarcá in the department of Quindío, Colombia...
(Butterfly vivariumVivariumA vivarium is a usually enclosed area for keeping and raising animals or plants for observation or research...
) - National Bamboo and Guadua Investigation CenterCórdoba, QuindíoCórdoba is a municipality in the eastern part of the department of Quindío, Colombia. It is located 24 km southeast of the departmental capital Armenia....
- PeñasblancasPeñasblancasPeñas Blancas consists of a crag and three vertical rock faces located on the western slopes of the Central Cordillera of the Andes in the municipality of Calarcá, in the department of Quindío in Colombia....
- Snow Mountain of QuindioSnow Mountain of QuindioThe Nevado del Quindío is an inactive volcano located in the Central Cordillera of the Andes in central Colombia. The summit marks the tripoint of the departments of Risaralda, Quindío and Tolima, and is also the highest point of the departments of Risaralda and Quindío. The mountain is one of the...
Cuisine
Some of the typical food and drinks are:- SancochoSancochoSancocho is a traditional soup in several Spanish and Latin American cuisines. Variations represent popular national dishes in the Canary Islands of Spain, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Peru, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela...
, which is a traditional soup made with almost any kind of meat, plantain, potato, yuca and/or other vegetables - Salentune Patacón, which is made with plantainPlantainPlantain is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa. The fruit they produce is generally used for cooking, in contrast to the soft, sweet banana...
, smashed in a thin layer, fried and covered with grinded cheese and pineapplePineapplePineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
sauce - Quindian arepaArepaAn arepa is a dish made of ground corn dough or cooked flour, popular in Colombia, Venezuela and other Spanish-speaking countries. It is similar in shape to the Salvadoran pupusa...
filled with shredded chicken and pieces of pig chicharrón - Cocora, which is a baked trout
- Maduro, which is a broiled plantain filled with cheese and Bocadillo (thick guavaGuavaGuavas are plants in the myrtle family genus Psidium , which contains about 100 species of tropical shrubs and small trees. They are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America...
jam) - Roasted gurreArmadilloArmadillos are New World placental mammals, known for having a leathery armor shell. Dasypodidae is the only surviving family in the order Cingulata, part of the superorder Xenarthra along with the anteaters and sloths. The word armadillo is Spanish for "little armored one"...
- guatin stew
- Coffee wine (obtained from fermentation of coffee berries) with flavor similar to coffee liqueur
- Coffee arequipe
- CornMaizeMaize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
chichaChichaFor the musical genre, see Peruvian cumbiaChicha is a term used in some regions of Latin America for several varieties of fermented and non-fermented beverages, rather often to those derived from maize and similar non-alcoholic beverages...
fermented in a large pottery recipient containing a horseshoeHorseshoeA horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
to enhance the flavor - Carajillo, a typical cocktailCocktailA cocktail is an alcoholic mixed drink that contains two or more ingredients—at least one of the ingredients must be a spirit.Cocktails were originally a mixture of spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. The word has come to mean almost any mixed drink that contains alcohol...
made of one part of hot coffee, one part of sugarcane aguardienteAguardienteAguardiente , aiguardent , aguardente , and augardente are generic terms for alcoholic beverages that contain between 29% and 60% alcohol by volume...
and cinnamonCinnamonCinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the genus Cinnamomum that is used in both sweet and savoury foods...
sticks
Festivals and celebrations
Quindio department is the main exponent of traditional Cultura Cafetera (coffee culture) in the country, and there are several events all around the year that attracts a large number of visitors to this region. With the purpose of preserve this cultural expressions, the regional government promotes the declaration of Patrimony of Humanity by the UnescoUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Among other events:
- The National Coffee Party is the main event of the department. It is celebrated each year since 1960 in Calarcá, the last days of June. The event includes the national beauty contest of coffee.
- The international fair of handcrafts, each may in Armenia.
- The day of St. Isidro (July-all the municipalties).
- The National festival of kiteKiteA kite is a tethered aircraft. The necessary lift that makes the kite wing fly is generated when air flows over and under the kite's wing, producing low pressure above the wing and high pressure below it. This deflection also generates horizontal drag along the direction of the wind...
s (august- La Tebaida). - The anniversary of Armenia (October), with the YipaoYipaoThe Yipao or Jeep parade is folkloric celebration in the Colombian department of Quindío, specially during the anniversary parties of the departmental capital Armenia.-Jeep-Willys history in Colombia :...
or jeep parade. - The candlelight festivalDía de las VelitasDía de las Velitas is one of the most observed traditional holidays of Colombia. It is celebrated on December 7, on the eve of the Immaculate Conception, which is a public holiday in Colombia...
of Quimbaya (December) . - The BullfightingBullfightingBullfighting is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Latin American countries , in which one or more bulls are baited in a bullring for sport and entertainment...
season of La Macarena (January- Armenia).
Fauna and Flora
Heliconia
Heliconia, derived from the Greek word helikonios, is a genus of about 100 to 200 species of flowering plants native to the tropical Americas and the Pacific Ocean islands west to Indonesia. Many species of Heliconia are found in rainforests or tropical wet forests of these regions...
species in the world and a large numbers of species of orchids, mainly of the genera cattleya
Cattleya
Cattleya is a genus of 113 species of orchids from Costa Rica to tropical South America. The genus was named in 1824 by John Lindley after Sir William Cattley who received and successfully cultivated specimens of Cattleya labiata that were used as packing material in a shipment of other orchids...
, odontoglossum
Odontoglossum
Odontoglossum, first named in 1816 by Karl Sigismund Kunth, is a genus of about 100 orchids. The scientific name is derived from the Greek words odon and glossa , referring to the two tooth-like calluses on the base of the lip...
, miltonia
Miltonia
Miltonia, abbreviated Milt. in the horticultural trade, is an orchid genus formed by nine epiphyte species and eight natural hybrids inhabitants of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, one species reaching the northeast of Argentina and east of Paraguay. This genus was established by John Lindley in...
, phragmipedium
Phragmipedium
Phragmipedium is a genus of the Orchid family and the only genus comprised in the tribe Phragmipedieae and subtribe Phragmipediinae. The name of the genus is derived from the Greek phragma, which means "division", and pedium, which means "slipper" . It is abbreviated 'Phrag' in trade journals...
and peristeria
Peristeria
Peristeria may refer to:* Peristeria , a genus of orchids* Peristeria, Drama, a village in the Drama Prefecture, Greece* Peristeria , one of the volcanoes of the Santorini complex...
. Due to agricultural activities the amount of natural forests typical of the area, such the páramo
Páramo
The term páramo can refer to a variety of ecosystems. Some ecologists describe the páramo broadly as “all high, tropical, montane vegetation above the continuous timberline”. A more narrow term classifies the páramo according to its regional placement - specifically located in “the northern Andes...
, the cloud forest
Cloud forest
A cloud forest, also called a fog forest, is a generally tropical or subtropical evergreen montane moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Cloud forests often exhibit an abundance of mosses covering the ground and...
are decreasing progressively. This has caused that many of the endemic species are threatened, endangered or critically endangered. Some of them are:
- Yellow-eared ParrotYellow-eared ParrotThe Yellow-eared Parrot , is an endangered parrot of tropical America. It is found in the western Andes in Colombia and Ecuador and is closely associated to the wax palm Ceroxylon sp. which is itself endangered.-Range and habitat:The Yellow-eared Parrot nests and lives among wax palms in a few...
- Andean GuanAndean GuanThe Andean Guan, Penelope montagnii, is a gamefowl species of the family Cracidae, in which it belongs to the guan subfamily Penelopinae...
- Colombian WeaselColombian WeaselColombian weasel , also known as Don Felipe's weasel, is a very rare species of weasel only known with certainty from the departments of Huila and Cauca in Colombia and nearby northern Ecuador...
- Epicrionops columbianusEpicrionops columbianusEpicrionops columbianus is a species of caecilian in the Rhinatrematidae family.It is endemic to Colombia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, rivers, and intermittent rivers.-Source:...
caecilianCaecilianThe caecilians are an order of amphibians that superficially resemble earthworms or snakes. They mostly live hidden in the ground, making them the least familiar order of amphibians. All extant caecilians and their closest fossil relatives are grouped as the clade Apoda. They are mostly... - Mano de oso tree.
External links
- Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango/Quindío
- http://www.mapatur.com
- http://www.quindioturismo.com
- http://www.turismoquindio.com
- http://www.aquarellahotel.com
- http://www.quindio.travel