Urumita
Encyclopedia
Urumita is a town and municipality of the Colombia
n Department
of La Guajira.
mountain range with part of its territory covering the valley of the Cesar River
towards the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
mountain range. The municipality seat of Urumita is however located on a flat area some 45 km away from the capital of the Department of Cesar, Valledupar
and some 175 km from the capital city of the Department of La Guajira, Riohacha
.
Urumita limits to the north with the municipality of Villanueva
in a 36 km borderline; to the south with the municipality of La Jagua del Pilar
sharing approximately 50 km; to the east with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, sharing 10 km; and to the west with the municipality of Valledupar sharing 15 km covering a total area of 329 km².
within the Government of Santa Marta. It was later made part of the Province of Padilla.
In 1972 Urumita became an autonomous corregimiento by Ordinance 043 of 1971 until 1978 when the Urumita was segregated from the municipality of Villanueva and became a relative status by Ordinance 016 of the same year. In 1982 the previous ordinance of 1978 is reconfirmed by ordinance 036 of 1982 rectifying the limits with Villanueva.
s, a plant considered medicinal. It is used in various ways by the population of Urumita, and it's part of its popular culture. The locals celebrate the Festival y Reinado de las Flores y la Calaguala (Festival and Pageant of the Flowers and the Calaguala) in honor of the plant.
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...
n Department
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 La Guajira.
Geography
The municipality of Urumita is located on the Serrania del PerijaSerrania del Perija
The Serranía del Perijá, Cordillera de Perijá or Sierra de Perijá is a mountain range, an extension of the eastern Andean branch , in northern South America, between Colombia and Venezuela, ending further north in the Guajira Desert, a total distance of about 310 km...
mountain range with part of its territory covering the valley of the Cesar River
Cesar River
The Cesar River is a river in northern Colombia which is a part of the Magdalena Basin. It separates the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta from the mountain ranges of the Serrania del Perija an extension of the Cordillera Oriental...
towards the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is an isolated mountain range apart from the Andes chain that runs through Colombia. Reaching an altitude of 5,700 metres above sea level just 42 km from the Caribbean coast, the Sierra Nevada is the world's highest coastal range...
mountain range. The municipality seat of Urumita is however located on a flat area some 45 km away from the capital of the Department of Cesar, Valledupar
Valledupar
Valledupar is a city and municipality in northeastern Colombia. It is the capital of Cesar Department and was founded in 1550 by the Spanish conquistador Hernando de Santana. Its name, Valle de Upar , was established in honor of the Amerindian cacique who ruled the valley; Cacique Upar...
and some 175 km from the capital city of the Department of La Guajira, Riohacha
Riohacha
Riohacha, Rio Hacha or Rio de la Hacha , is a city in the Riohacha Municipality in the northern Caribbean Region of Colombia by the mouth of the Ranchería River and the Caribbean sea, capital city of the La Guajira Department. Founded by conquistador Nikolaus Federmann in 1535, Riohacha was named...
.
Urumita limits to the north with the municipality of Villanueva
Villanueva, La Guajira
Villanueva is a town and municipality located in the northern Department of La Guajira, Colombia. Villanueva is known in Colombia for being the cradle of many vallenato singers and composers...
in a 36 km borderline; to the south with the municipality of La Jagua del Pilar
La Jagua del Pilar
La Jagua del Pilar is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of La Guajira. The municipality has a total area of 187 km² and located some 450 meters over sea level and with an average temperature of 27°C...
sharing approximately 50 km; to the east with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, sharing 10 km; and to the west with the municipality of Valledupar sharing 15 km covering a total area of 329 km².
Climate
Climate in the municipality of Urumita is warm with an average temperature throughout the year of 28°C variating slightly during the two rainy season and the two dry seasons, as well as the effect of the trade winds which flow from northeast.History
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish colonizers the area of Urumita was inhabied by indigenous peoples pertaining to the Chimilas. At the time of the Spanish arrival in the early 16th Century, the area was governed by a Cacique named Uruma. After a period of conquest and colonization by the Spanish, on October 3, 1785 Juan Bautista Canalete founded the village of Urumita. The village became part of the jurisdiction of the municipality of VillanuevaVillanueva, La Guajira
Villanueva is a town and municipality located in the northern Department of La Guajira, Colombia. Villanueva is known in Colombia for being the cradle of many vallenato singers and composers...
within the Government of Santa Marta. It was later made part of the Province of Padilla.
In 1972 Urumita became an autonomous corregimiento by Ordinance 043 of 1971 until 1978 when the Urumita was segregated from the municipality of Villanueva and became a relative status by Ordinance 016 of the same year. In 1982 the previous ordinance of 1978 is reconfirmed by ordinance 036 of 1982 rectifying the limits with Villanueva.
Culture
The region has a large presence of CalagualaCalaguala
Calaguala is an extract from Polypodium decumanum, a type of fern used historically for medicinal purposes.It is also known as kalawalla, and a number of other spellings occur. It is recommended as a treatment for vitiligo, also some reports have indicated it may help with symptoms of multiple...
s, a plant considered medicinal. It is used in various ways by the population of Urumita, and it's part of its popular culture. The locals celebrate the Festival y Reinado de las Flores y la Calaguala (Festival and Pageant of the Flowers and the Calaguala) in honor of the plant.