Sutatenza (Spanish pronunciation: [sutaˈtensa]) is a town and municipality in the Eastern Boyacá Province of the department of Boyacá, Colombia. It is located 125 kilometres (78 mi) from the Colombian capital Bogotá and 118 kilometres (73 mi) from the department capital Tunja. Sutatenza borders Somondoco, Guateque, Tenza and Garagoa.[1]

Sutatenza
Municipality and town
Church of Sutatenza
Church of Sutatenza
Flag of Sutatenza
Official seal of Sutatenza
Location of the municipality and town of Sutatenza in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Location of the municipality and town of Sutatenza in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Country Colombia
DepartmentBoyacá Department
ProvinceEastern Boyacá Province
Founded22 October 1783
Government
 • MayorOscar Yovany Montenegro Salcedo
(2020-2023)
Area
 • Municipality and town
41.26 km2 (15.93 sq mi)
Elevation
1,890 m (6,200 ft)
Population
 (2015)
 • Municipality and town
4,086
 • Density99/km2 (260/sq mi)
 • Urban
769
Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
WebsiteOfficial website

Etymology

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The name Sutatenza comes from Chibcha and means either "Cloud behind the anchovy" or "Descending to the house of the cacique".[1][2]

History

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In the time before the Spanish conquest, Sutatenza, situated in the Tenza Valley to the east of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, was ruled by a cacique called Tenzuzucá or Tenzucá, loyal to the zaque of Hunza. Conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada in his quest for El Dorado and the rich emerald deposits of the Muisca Confederation visited Sutatenza in 1537.

Modern Sutatenza was not founded until October 22, 1783.[1]

Climate

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Sutatenza has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen: Cfb)[3] with mild temperatures and frequent rainfall. A dry season between December and February produces warmer and drier weather.

Climate data for Sutatenza, elevation 1,930 m (6,330 ft), (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 24.3
(75.7)
24.4
(75.9)
24.1
(75.4)
23.3
(73.9)
22.5
(72.5)
21.4
(70.5)
20.9
(69.6)
21.4
(70.5)
22.7
(72.9)
23.4
(74.1)
23.6
(74.5)
23.9
(75.0)
23.0
(73.4)
Daily mean °C (°F) 18.2
(64.8)
18.3
(64.9)
18.4
(65.1)
18.2
(64.8)
17.9
(64.2)
17.2
(63.0)
16.9
(62.4)
17.0
(62.6)
17.6
(63.7)
18.0
(64.4)
18.2
(64.8)
18.3
(64.9)
17.8
(64.0)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 13.3
(55.9)
13.8
(56.8)
14.5
(58.1)
14.6
(58.3)
14.4
(57.9)
13.8
(56.8)
13.3
(55.9)
13.5
(56.3)
13.3
(55.9)
13.8
(56.8)
14.1
(57.4)
13.6
(56.5)
13.8
(56.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 18.9
(0.74)
31.3
(1.23)
53.5
(2.11)
119.3
(4.70)
177.2
(6.98)
184.5
(7.26)
171.9
(6.77)
148.2
(5.83)
107.0
(4.21)
98.3
(3.87)
68.7
(2.70)
24.8
(0.98)
1,203.5
(47.38)
Average precipitation days 6 8 13 18 23 25 25 23 18 17 15 9 200
Average relative humidity (%) 76 76 77 79 81 82 83 82 80 78 78 77 79
Mean monthly sunshine hours 201.5 163.7 133.3 111.0 108.5 87.0 96.1 105.4 129.0 142.6 153.0 186.0 1,617.1
Mean daily sunshine hours 6.5 5.8 4.3 3.7 3.5 2.9 3.1 3.4 4.3 4.6 5.1 6.0 4.4
Source: Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales[4]

Economy

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Main economical activities of Sutatenza are agriculture and aviculture. A small salt mine is operated in the vereda Salitre.[1]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d (in Spanish) Official website Sutatenza
  2. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Sutatenza - Excelsio.net
  3. ^ "Table 1 Overview of the Köppen-Geiger climate classes including the defining criteria". Nature: Scientific Data. 23 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Promedios Climatológicos 1981–2010" (in Spanish). Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2024.

5°01′N 73°27′W / 5.017°N 73.450°W / 5.017; -73.450

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