Socha
Socha | |
|---|---|
Municipality and town | |
 Flag | |
 Location of the municipality and town of Socha in the Boyacá Department of Colombia. | |
| Country |  Colombia |
| Department | Boyacá Department |
| Province | Valderrama Province |
| Founded | 22 October 1540 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Zandra María Bernal Rincón (2020–2023) |
| Area | |
• Municipality and town | 151 km2 (58 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 1.5 km2 (0.6 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2,669 m (8,757 ft) |
| Population (2015) | |
• Municipality and town | 7,140 |
| • Density | 47/km2 (120/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 3,836 |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time) |
| Website | Official website |
Socha is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá, part of the Valderrama Province, which is a subregion of Boyacá. It borders Socotá in the east, Sativasur in the north, Tasco in the south and in the west Paz de Río.
Geography
[edit]The village is located in the Eastern Ranges at altitudes between 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) and 4,000 metres (13,000 ft).[1] Socha is the largest municipality in the Natural National Park Páramo de Pisba. The Chicamocha River forms the northern boundary of Socha.
History
[edit]Before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Socha was inhabited by the indigenous Pirgua and Boche tribes, belonging to the Muisca.[1]
Simón Bolívar passed through Socha in his march for the independence of Colombia. The town center was moved in 1870 due to a landslide. Close to the Boche waterfall in the municipality petroglyphs have been found.[1]
The name Socha is derived from the Chibcha words So ("Sun"; Sué) and Cha ("Moon"; Chía), "Land of the Sun and the Moon".[2]
Economy
[edit]Main economical activity of Socha is coal and sandstone mining. To a lesser extent also livestock farming and agriculture are executed.[1]
Born in Socha
[edit]- Fernando Soto Aparicio, Colombian poet
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d (in Spanish) Official website Socha – accessed 06-05-2016
- ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Socha – accessed 06-05-2016
