Facatativa

Facatativá is a Colombian municipality in the department of Cundinamarca. It is the capital of the Province of Sabana Oeste. It is part of the Bogotá Metropolitan Area, according to the 2015 DANE census. It is located 36 km from Bogotá, near the highway that leads to Medellín. It has species of both flora and fauna that are already extinct in other places in the Cundiboyacense Altiplano. It also houses the Facatativá Archaeological Park.

Toponymy

The toponym «Facatativá» comes from the muysc cubun (Muisca language). It comes from the roots fac ("outside"), a (genitive of possession) and ta ("plowing"). However, the toponymy accepted according to the characteristics of the municipality derives the word from the roots faca ("fenced", "fortress", "stately mansion") and tyba ("captainship"). The most common meaning is "Strong fence at the end of the plain."

History

Pre-Columbian era

It is estimated that the first inhabitants arrived in this region about 18,000 years ago. According to archaeological discoveries, this era includes three major periods of human occupation: the Paleoindian period, the Archaic Period and the Herrera Period.

Muisca Era

Facatativá is considered a pre-Columbian city, it was a defense site, in this strategic base they maintained a strong garrison to defend their domains from the warlike Panches. It was organized into population centers in Chueca, Tocatativá (current Vereda Pueblo Viejo), Teuta, Niumixaca, Niminxaca, Chisachasuca. It was the main headquarters or fortress of the Muiscas in the western area of the Savannah; the Zipas Enclosure, formed around a group of gigantic stones that served as a dwelling and shrine, some undermined by deep tunnels, from whose height they oversaw the immense plain.

The territories of Facatativá belonged to one of the few fully established states in America prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 15th century. The Muisca Confederation This state was divided between several subnational entities (the Zipazgo of Bacatá, the Zacazgo of Hunza, the sacred territory of Iraca and the sacred territory of Tundama, in addition to a group of autonomous territories.) The territory belonged to the Zipazgo of Bacatá and it was one of the main religious centers of the Muiscas due to the gigantic stones present on the plain. There is also a series of underground tunnels that originate in caves and rocks. They are attributed a military use and to hide gold.

Tisquesusa, dominated by Funza, capital of the Empire, the Zipa Tisquesusa, upon hearing news of the invasion of strangers, took refuge in the Cercado. Due to news from a captive Indian, Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada arrived there in pursuit of him on October 15, 1538. The Zipa was killed at the hands of the Ballesteros foreman Alonso Domínguez Beltrán, without knowing that it was the Zipa, he pierced his chest with a sword and took his belongings.

The next day, Tisquesusa servers found his body after seeing buzzards flying in the sector. They immediately took him up and buried him in an unknown place. The Parque de las Piedras del Tunjo could be the "Cercado de Piedra" where Tisquesusa took refuge and in whose vicinity he was murdered.

Furious at not having found Tisquesusa's treasure, the Spanish returned to Funza, and only a few days later they learned that the zipa had died that night. Given the weakness of Chiayzaque, chief of Chía and legitimate successor of Tisquesusa, Zaquesazipa assumed command of the zipazgo.

Spanish conquest

The establishment of the city in the current site, intermediate between the primitive Tocatativa (Old Town) and the Cercado, is assumed to have occurred many years after the Conquest. Rodríguez Freile cites Juan Fuertes as the first encomendero of Facatativa, in 1540, from Federman's troop. The true founders or civilizers were the Spanish conquistadors Alonso Olalla Herrera and Hernando de Alcocer, who arrived in the New Kingdom of Granada with Nicolás de Federman and transformed the settled place into a foundation, simply by completing a series of formalities that were called “Ritual de la Conquest"; For their services, the Encomienda of Facatativá was awarded to Alonso Olalla Herrera and that of Bojacá to Hernando de Alcocer; They opened the road that led from Facatativá to Honda, which caused the mules to replace the indigenous people employed as porters for the Spaniards on these trips and Facatativá to permanently transport the shipment of tributes to the Spanish Crown.

Facatativá for the permanent transportation of sending tributes to the Spanish government, they had to travel along the Caminos Reales to avoid going up through Pueblo Viejo, they opted for the straight line; These events occurred between 1561 and 1564. Flores de Ocáriz places the foundation between 1540 and 1543. In March 1575, when the Royal Court assessed the Facatativeños Indians so that each one would pay tribute to the encomendero, the Andalusian Bujalence Antón or Antonio held that position. from Olalla.

The friars ordered the construction of the doctrinal chapel in Pueblo Viejo (Tocatativá) near the encomiendas, there, the indigenous people were catechized and taught the language and new agricultural techniques. After the conquest, the Spanish authorities ordered the relocation of family units and began the founding of towns in accordance with Spanish legislation. Towards the end of the XVI century, specifically in 1595, there were three important aboriginal settlements in what is now Facatativá and its surroundings: Facatativá (Pueblo Viejo, Tocatativá), towards the upper part, to the west of the current town; Chueca, towards the east, passing the stone bridge today called Las Cuevas; and Niminxaca, towards the plain, north side, beyond Chueca, on the left side was Tenequene, near the river of that name. Numerous Indians lived in them and several Spanish ranchers lived around them.

On July 3, 1600, the Licensed Oidor Diego Gómez de Mena, in order to build a new church, ordered the inhabitants of Chueca, the Niminxaca or Niumixaca, Pueblo Viejo (Tocatativá), Chisachasuca to gather in the place called teuta (Current Location of Facatativá). In 1630 and 1632, to specify the boundaries of the ranches among themselves and with the land of the Indians, three maps of Facatativá and its surroundings were drawn, which are in the National Archive. On June 17, 1639, the judge Gabriel de Carvajal arrived for a visit, who first made a visual inspection of the reservation lands and ranches of neighboring neighbors in order to recognize the boundaries and protect the Indians in their possession, which they they were removing.

The first thing was to recognize the Facatativá reservation and verify its boundaries. At that time, the carpenter Baltasar Sánchez was finishing the church, who had taken charge of it in July 1627. But since he had not finished it, he imposed a fine on June 19 of this year of 1639. Consequently, seeing that The Indians were not settled in Facatativá as the oidor Gómez de Mena had left them, but were dispersed in their old rancherios. Carvajal proceeded to repopulate them in the same place of Teuta through separate orders dated June 21 and 22, 1639. The site of the new town of Facatativá was within the Facatativá reservation and the town continued as an Indian town until 1852 when the indigenous people sold part of the reservation lands. Until this last date, the Indians had usufruct of their lands (reservations, protections and other lands) but they could not sell them.

Since the end of the XVI century, the Spanish began to populate the Facatativá valley, some as ranchers, others as businessmen and workers. Facatativá is called by Encomendero Alonso de Olaya Herrera in 1583 as “The Gate of the Kingdom” for being the place through which European civilization accessed the Bogotá Savannah and it is from this perception that relations with the surrounding territory during the colony.

New Kingdom of Granada

In the time of the New Kingdom of Granada, the road that led from Santafé de Bogotá to Honda was opened. Facatativá, due to its strategic position, takes on great importance in the New Kingdom of Granada. At this time, the extension of the indigenous reservation increased as it became an important commercial point between the capital, the Magdalena River and the city of Guaduas.

Their wheat crops supplied Santa Fe; Its trade and weekly market gave the town notoriety. In 1772, Don Juan Ignacio Calderón was appointed the first Mayor of Facatativá.

On May 25, 1781, José Antonio Galán went to Facatativá to arrest Juan Francisco Gutiérrez de Piñeros. Galan attacked, defeated and took prisoner the viceroy's men. They were the first shots that were heard in the Cundiboyacense plateau against the Spanish. Galán returned to Facatativá the next day to free the prisoners. At that moment, 25 harquebusiers that the Royal Court had sent to help the defeated arrived from the west. Galán went out to meet him and obtained a second victory. In 1783 the wise José Celestino Mutis, Director of the Botanical Expedition, passed by.

On May 30, he left for Guaduas, leaving a new political administration in Facatativá. On February 2, 1782 he was taken prisoner and executed in Santafé. His head was displayed in the main square of Facatativá.

An army of 80 men, among whom Mariano Grillo appears as a lieutenant of one of the Companies, and Lieutenant Tomás Acosta (born in Facatativá in 1781), leave for Bogotá and proceed to fight in Cáqueza and in the plains of the Casanare.

In 1795 Don Antonio Nariño passed through Facatativá sentenced by Viceroy José de Ezpeleta to ten years of captivity in Africa.

19th century

On May 9, 1830, Simón Bolívar passed through Facatativá for the last time.

In 1851 the first bus service in Colombia was established between Facatativá and Bogotá. In 1856 the Parish of Facatativá was erected. On November 1, 1865, the first telegraphic message was issued from Facatativá. This message was addressed to President Manuel Murillo Toro. The same year, the fifth Constitution of Cundinamarca is voted on in Facatativá. The machinery of the expropriated printing press El Tradicionalista is distributed between Facatativá, Zipaquirá and La Mesa.

20th and 21st centuries

On March 1, 1902, Facatativá was designated capital of the department of Cundinamarca. In 1906 the Normal School of Instructors and the School of Fine Arts were created. In 1908, the precursor of the feminist movement in Colombia, Lucila Rubio Angulo, was born in Facatativá. The same year the city became the capital of the newly created department of Facatativá. In 1909 the first train on the railway left for Bogotá.

In 1926 Camilo Daza, pioneer of Colombian aviation, landed. In 1932 the newspaper El Pueblo appeared. In 1933 the Plaza las Ferias was inaugurated. In 1934 the newspapers La Razón and El Proscenio were founded. In 1936 the National Government acquired the Piedras del Tunjo. In 1944, the Army Transmission School was founded. In 1948, for the first time in Colombia, a woman was appointed as a criminal judge.

In 1962 the Diocese of Facatativá was created. In 1975 the shield and flag were adopted. In 1982, the section of the Medellín Highway between Fontibón and Facatativá was inaugurated.

In 2017 a military plane crashed on Manjuy Hill. Eight people die.

National Strike 2021

The protests began on April 28, 2021, and were called by the so-called National Strike Committee, made up of unions and labor centers that had called for the protests in Colombia from 2019-2020, to which added other social sectors. The protests have occurred in different cities, municipalities and roads in the country. Facatativá, being crossed by one of the main road arteries in the country, has been the protagonist along with the neighboring municipality of Madrid as the main actors in the strike in the Bogotá Savannah. The protests have been characterized by their largely peaceful conduct, however due to the exaggerated use of force by the National Police and ESMAD, several protesters have been forced to use violence.

In the municipality of Facatativá, within the framework of the national strike, the main form of protest that has been called has been the blocking of the Vía a Medellín, which is one of the main road arteries to the capital. These blockades have been carried out at the height of the Villa Alba neighborhood (entrance to the main urban area of Facatativá) and at the height of the Cartagenita neighborhood, at the roundabout that connects the municipalities of Madrid, Zipacón and Facatativá, using barricades based on stones, sticks, nails and bonfires, in the same way the roads have been blocked by unions of truckers and transporters who have decided to march alongside the Protestants.

On May Day, the third day of the strike and in conjunction with the commemoration of Labor Day, a large number of young people, union organizations and workers took to the streets and, in the middle of the marches, demolished the neighborhood's pedestrian bridge. Villa Alba, which had been in a state of ruin for several years and which the municipal mayor's office had neither demolished nor rehabilitated. That same night in the municipality of Madrid, the young Facatativeño Brayan Niño died from a gas canister shot. tear gas from an ESMAD tank, an officer was arrested for this incident. The death of the young man revived the protests both in Madrid and in Facatativá, which escalated to violence, mainly by law enforcement.

On May 28, exactly one month after the start of the national strike, in the afternoon hours a blockade remained in place in the Cartagenita neighborhood, at the time when the police attempted to clear the demonstration without participation. from ESMAD, the protesters threw Molotov cocktails at the Cartagenita Police Substation, which would end up incinerated; there were several uniformed officers who were able to escape unharmed.

On May 30 at night, protesters set fire to the municipal courthouse and the headquarters of the mayor's office and municipal Sisben where Covid-19 vaccines were stored; later the army had to intervene in both situations and rescue the vaccines. On June 7, it was recorded that pamphlets were circulating in the municipality in the name of the Águilas Negras group where they threatened to kill strike representatives, frontline youth and others involved in the protests.

Geography

Facatativá is located at the western end of the Bogotá savannah, 36 km from Bogotá, closing in two branches of the Eastern Cordillera, made up of the "Aserraderos" and 'Santa Helena', of which one follows the west-east direction, forming the Manjuy hill (highest elevation in the municipality) and the other from the south-north forming the hills of Churrasi, Piedrecitas, among others, to finish at the point of the turn of the hill, on the road that leads to Subachoque and Zipaquirá.

Within its geography, the Alto de la Tribuna stands out, with an approximate height of 3,000 m above sea level. n. m., located west of Via Albán; the Alto de las Cruces with 2,700 m above sea level. n. m., located south of the Anolaima road along the Camino Real; Cerro Manjuy, with 3200 m above sea level. n. m.; royal roads from Zipacón, Anolaima to Gualivá (Sasaima); the Mancilla trail, the San Rafael Selva, the Old Mancilla El Dintel Railway Trail, the natural reserves in the La Selva Trail, among others.

It has an area of 15,800 hectares, of which 623 make up the urban area. The territory in which it is currently accentuated, like most of the Cundiboyacense Altiplano, was part of a large water expanse; This data is evidenced by the presence of groundwater and wetlands.

It is characteristic within a portion of the Facatativeño territory, the presence of the geological formation known as Tibaitatá, which presents claystones and siltstones interspersed with sandstones as characteristic materials. This evolution and geological nature allow the exploitation, although not widespread and with limitations, of some chircals and sandstones, used as construction materials.

Hydrography

The municipality is irrigated by a hydrographic network from which the main fluvial artery stands out determined by the Los Andes River (also known as Botello or Tenequene) whose source is to the south-west of the municipal seat, and flows into the Bojacá River. Among its tributaries are the Pava River and the Quebrada El Vino.

It has other smaller streams that have been subjected to decontamination campaigns in recent years.

The city has more than ten wetlands; among which stand out Las Tinguas, La Guapucha, Villa Nueva, El Desecho and Piedras del Tunjo, La Fleishman, Los Micos, San Rafael, Las Cuevas y Cañadas, Covarachía, Manantial, Gatillo (artificial), Corito and El Vino.

In recent years, campaigns have been carried out to clean and reforest the areas occupied by wetlands, since population growth has generated pollution and even the disappearance of some.

Mountain system

Being at one of the extremes of the plateau, Facatativá is not only a flat city, but on its southern and western edges it presents a series of undulations. They are the points where the rivers and streams that bathe this land are born. Some are rich in flora and fauna, presenting ecosystems typical of the moor even without almost any human intervention.

The hills on the southern edge are populated (their eastern part is part of the urban zone or is in the territorial development plan). They are known for having been the first human settlement in Facatativá. In addition, they present the highest point of the city in the Cerro de Manjuy (at 3200 m a.s.l.).

These form a small mountain range that runs from west to east, and separate the municipality from its southern peers. Most of the hills are used for agriculture, livestock and mining.

The hills on the western edge have a south-north direction, however, their most relevant heights are in the extreme south, a location where the rivers that supply drinking water to the population are born, they present a climate of moorland and a foggy forest landscape. These hills, for the most part, are protected, not only because of the source of the waters, but because of their great variety in flora and fauna that sometimes becomes unique. By municipal decree, construction, mining, agriculture, livestock, felling of trees and hunting are prohibited in them.

They present a series of royal roads that lead to the surrounding towns, being highly tourist places due to their particular conditions.

This hill is located outside the small mountain ranges, is surrounded by the plains of the savanna, has a height of 2939 meters above sea level and presents a semi-paramo landscape. Some streams originate there, most of which irrigate the lands of northern Facatativeño. Today, its use for human purposes or its conservation in a natural state is under discussion, given that it is protected above 2800 meters.

Geographic Location and Municipal Boundaries

Northwest: San Francisco La Vega	North: The Rosal	Northeast: Madrid
West: Sasaima		This: Madrid
Southwest: Alban Anolaima	South: Zipacon	Sureste: Bojacá

Despite the existing agreements, there is a discussion between Facatativá and La Vega regarding the possession of the El Dintel sector (today in La Vega). The latter assumes it as part of the El Vino village, while Facatativá does the same with the Mancilla village.

Demography

Facatativá has been characterized as one of the largest cities in Cundinamarca, this was due to the strategic importance of Facatativá halfway between the capital and the port city of Honda, which was the river connection of Bogotá with the Caribbean Sea., and that during the 16th - 17th - 18th - 19th centuries it was the most important trade route in the country. In recent years, this population increase has been directly influenced by the demographic pressure exerted by Bogotá, causing the population to double in less than 40 years. Approximately 5% (approximately 6,500 people) of the population are of migrant origin, mainly from the neighboring country Venezuela.

Ethnography

Facatativá, with its original indigenous population, was a town of free Indians during the first years of the Spanish viceroyalty in America, but this indigenous population was drastically reduced due to several smallpox epidemics that hit the city in the 16th and 17th centuries. Hence, the white population of the city was greater than the indigenous population during the following years and that finally the mestizos predominated in the city, of mainly white origin with the minimum indigenous population that survived the epidemics.

Immigrants came to Facatativá mainly from Spain during the colonial period and later in the republic; During the 19th and 20th centuries, more Spanish and, to a lesser extent, Italian and French immigrants would arrive (such as Father Michel Jeanne, who dedicated himself to the community of Cartagenita, built the temple of Our Lady of Carmen, in 1997 he arrived in Manablanca and ordered the construction of the temple of Jesus of Nazareth) and "Turks" who were mainly Lebanese Arabs (most of the Christian faith and some of the Muslim faith).

Climate

Due to its altitude, Facatativá has an equatorial Csbi mountain climate, which has an average annual temperature of 13 °C. However, it has two seasons of 'frost', the first from December to March and the second in July and August; In these two periods there is a temperature of up to 22 °C during the day, but at night an average temperature of 0 °C, with the exception of the months of December and January, when the average night temperature is -3 °C..

The city's climate is characterized by abundant rain, although usually, during the months of May, June, July and August, the dry season occurs, likewise, hailstorms occur sporadically throughout the year, mainly in higher altitude rural areas.

Facatativá's average climate parameters (1971-2000)
Month	Ene.	Feb.	Mar.	Open up.	May.	Jun.	Jul.	Ago.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.	Annual
Average temperature (°C)	19.8	19.9	19.8	19.5	19.2	18.7	18.2	18.6	19.0	19.1	19.3	19.5	19.2
Average temperature (°C)	13.0	13.4	13.8	14.0	14.0	13.8	13.3	13.3	13.3	13.4	13.4	13.1	13.1
Temp. medium (°C)	−3.0	−6.4	−3.2	0.0	0.7	1.0	0.4	-1.5	-0.2	0.5	-3.0	−6.0	-6.4
Total precipitation (mm)	29	44	66	101	93	54	43	46	72	106	90	52	796
Days of precipitation (≥)	8	11	14	18	20	18	17	16	16	18	17	12	185.
Hours of sun	187	150	144	110	112	112	137	138	121	121	132	166	1629
Relative humidity (%)	79	80	81	82	81	79	77	77	79	82	83	81	80
Source: Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM)

Municipal administrative structure

In Facatativá the government is headed by the mayor and 17 councilors. These 18 members are democratically elected for a period of four years. Added to these is that each neighborhood and village has the right to elect a communal action board popularly for a period of two years.

Political-Administrative Division

Apart from its municipal head. Facatativá has the following population centers under its jurisdiction:

Urban-Industrial Distribution

The urban area is divided into two communes, a semi-commune and more than one hundred neighborhoods. All are included in six large zones for their administration, these zones are determined by social characteristics that the neighborhoods or communes grouped together in them have in common. These zones are: Western Zone, Southern Edge Zone, Urban Peripheral Zone (south-west or communes), Large Green Zones (Northwest), Central Zone and Traditional Residential Zone (also in the center).

It is made up of only two neighborhoods (Centro and Chapinero), it is the main political, administrative, financial and commercial center of the city.

Located to the south-west, it does not continue along the road that leads to Bogotá, but does continue along the southern part of the hills. It is made up of two large communes (Cartagenita and Manablanca) that are also divided into various neighborhoods. It maintained a different nomenclature from the rest of the city for several years, and although today these are unified, its inhabitants use it little; Today it still maintains the water and sewage service along with garbage collection in an independent system. It has a high percentage of industries.

After the Periphery Zone, the western zone is the most industrialized and has been a point of growth in recent years.

The southern area is the poorest and one of the most traditional. It is characterized by its difficult access and its location crossing the railway line.

The name of the Great Green Zones is due to the large number of green areas that are located there, including El Parque Cercado de los Zipas. It is the largest area, it is made up of a semi-commune, the Telecommunications Battalion of the Colombian Army, the cemetery and others.

The traditional residential area, along with the western area, is where the inhabitants of the highest social class of Facatativá reside. It is characterized by having the terminal, most of the schools, parks and an area with the most important shopping centers.

Symbols

The shield and flag projects were approved by the Colombian Academy of History in its ordinary session on September 3, 1974.

Shield, flag and anthem

The shield has a Spanish shape, half split and cut, it has a walled crown as its stamp and as its emblem in its lower part on a ribbon the name of the city of Facatativá. In the right quarter the head of an Indian in its natural color. In the sinister quarter a silver helmet, with gold plumes and gules, superimposed on two silver lances. In the lower field, the Zipas fence under a blue sky. On the one hand, the shield tries to show the historical richness of Facatativá; The indigenous details the pre-Columbian era, while the helmet details the Spanish culture that transcended not only the place but throughout Latin America. On the other hand, it flaunts the most representative quality of the city, its enormous stones, showing them on a main level and at the same time, with the tradition they had as a fortress; in the stone at the bottom and the walled crown, respectively. The shield also details the colors of the flag, green and red, using them as a background in the upper quarters.

The flag consists of a banner with three vertical stripes of equal size, gules (red) in the center and sinple (green) at the ends. The proportion must always be two points wide by three points long, whatever its size. The green of the flag represents the fertile lands, and the red the indigenous blood and the heroes of the country spilled in the municipality.

The lyrics of the anthem were composed by Luis Eduardo Moreno Camacho, a facatativeño writer and poet. The music was created by Ricardo Álvares Galvis. The anthem synthesizes different sections of the history and geography of the region.

Chorus

Oh how beautiful is your Aboriginal name oh how beautiful Facatativá, advanced in the end of the plantation, fortress and stately mansion.

I From the high Manjuy that watches over to the wide fertile plain, everything sings the love of life, everything sings the love of peace.

II You are Strong Zipa fence that from the fertile plain at the end, to the extinct Chibchas tribes, you provided shelter, food and home.

III How much history does your land contain, how much light in your ancestral night, How much blood did your heroes shed? in their fight for freedom.

IV We evoke the great Tisquesusa whose name is an immortal name we evoke in it a race who was haughty, brave and bold.

V In the giant stones the Muiscas with coral red dye They left us figures and sign their message to posterity. VI Beloved land of our grandparents beautiful land of maternal love every place in your territory It is the light, it is the song, it is peace.

VII In your fountains that flow through the valley with her limpid crystal voice a swarm of fish decorates, the calm vegetal stillness.

VIII In your fields sown with wheat how undulating the sea resembles, thousands of birds sing their trills and they sing of freedom.

IX How we love your fields, your forests, your streams that go singing and your sun is the sun that burns us with fire filial love.

X Beloved land of our grandparents that make us live and dream: every place in your territory It is the light, it is the song, it is peace.

Other symbols

As in the entire Cundiboyasense plateau, in Facatativá it is possible to find tinguas. However, these have become a representative symbol because their population rate in wetlands and swamps is especially higher than that of other cities; In addition, it is possible to see varieties that are already extinct elsewhere. All species are threatened.

The facatativeña frog once inhabited the entire western savannah, however its habitat was slowly reduced until its total disappearance (the existence of a few of its species is still suspected). It belongs to the same taxonomic genus as most of the frogs in the region, however it bears this name due to its place of discovery.

Unlike other places in the savannah, Facatativá does not have the walnut tree as its flagship plant, but rather the willow tree. This is because this plant proliferates near water, and is used to recover groundwater. Salix humboldtiana is the only species of willow that is found naturally in South America, therefore, reforestation is carried out with it, so as not to introduce non-native species.

Petroglyphs are one of the biggest attractors of tourists. For years, they have been exploited for various purposes, until becoming one of the most memorable icons of the place. They are found engraved in the various Archaeological Parks. Today, a team has been created to search, identify and interpret these paintings, which are normally made of natural red paints. They were created by the Muiscas who commemorated their ceremonies or perhaps told their stories on the giant rocks. Although they can be found in various places in the country, in Facatativá they are special due to their high level of conservation.

Economy

Industry and mining

It has several factories within the urban coverage, but, unlike other cities, it does not have a defined industrial zone since these factories are dispersed in different places in the city. These are some of the most important factories in the city and their location: Yanbal, Alpina, Productos Polar, Ecopetrol, Arrocera de la Sabana, Empresa Raza and Inagro.

Territorial organization projects seek to create an industrial zone where all industries are located in order to separate them from residential areas. One of the biggest problems that this project presents is the purchase of land to move the companies, because a large part of the territory is under natural protection or is in the hands of private owners. It is also difficult to guarantee that current industries are willing to exchange property they already own if they have to buy new ones.

After constant restrictions, mining activity has been reduced. In Facatativá, regarding mining, open-air excavations are carried out in search of land suitable for construction. The activities carried out by Ecopetrol are also relevant, although a total ban on mining is being studied.

Agriculture and livestock

In rural areas, there is a high rate of agriculture. Facatativá is recognized for the production of potatoes (solanum tuberosum) and wheat, however, there are large crops of strawberries and corn, as well as legumes and other tubers. Trucks loaded with food leave the city daily for Bogotá.

Facatativá has a huge number of companies dedicated to floriculture (popularly known as 'floras'), this activity is perhaps the one that employs the most citizens. Floriculture is common due to the high degree of fertility of its lands, but, on the other hand, the excessive amount of flower crops has generated the loss of groundwater and even land erosion.

As most of the spaces are protected, urbanized or planted, there is no relevant space for livestock farming in Facatativá, although in the hills on the southern edge, there are high rates of milk production.

Trade

The city of Facatativá is highly commercial. Although its traditional commercial area is mainly located in the Centro and Chapinero sectors, it is easy to find commerce along it.

Facatativá, since the first years of the colony, has been a great shopping port due to its strategic position between the capital and the Magdalena River. Normally its market square stands out, packed with all kinds of agricultural products, however, these products are found in different marketing centers around said square.

It also has a series of shopping centers that in recent years have stood out for their great variety of products and economical prices, attracting visitors from surrounding places.

In recent years, attempts have been made to sectorize commerce to make it easier for people to make purchases. This measure has been working positively, although sometimes it is possible to see trade of one kind in the sector of another.

Facatativá Chamber of Commerce

The Facatativá Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit institution that is responsible for managing the commercial registries of companies and societies that are created in the Northwest of Cundinamarca. It provides formality to economic activity and creates alliances for the formation of companies.

In the Jurisdiction of the Facatativá Chamber of Commerce are the municipalities of: Facatativá, BojacáEl Rosal, Funza, Madrid, MosqueraSubachoque, Zipacón, Albán, La Peña, La Vega, Nimaima, Nocaima, Quebradanegra, San Francisco, Sasaima, Supatá, Útica, Vergara, Villeta, Anolaima, Cachipay, San Juan de Rioseco, Chaguaní, Vianí, Bituima, Guayabal de Síquima, Beltrán, El Peñon, La Palma, Pacho, Paime, San Cayetano, Topaipí, Villagómez, Yacopí, Caparrapí.

Transportation

Railway Corridors

Two of the most important railway systems in the nation converged in Facatativá. The Ferrocarriles de la Sabana de Bogotá, commonly known as the Tren de la Sabana, is the group of railways that are located in the geographic region of the Sabana de Bogotá. It provided rail transport services since 1889 between the towns of the metropolitan area of Bogotá and the Girardot Railway. Its construction, which sought to connect Bogotá with the Magdalena River, was authorized in 1873 and started by the engineer Francisco Javier Cisneros in 1881. In 1888 the The line reached Apulo and its extension was difficult due to the lack of economic resources. It was necessary to wait until 1895 for the resumption of its construction, which extended only 10 km in twelve years. Finally, in 1909 it arrived in Facatativá and there it connected with the La Sabana Railway. In this way, the mule was eliminated in the transportation chain between the Coast and Bogotá: the train was taken from Puerto Colombia to Barranquilla, river steamer to La Dorada, train to Ambalema, steamer to Girardot and two more trains to Bogotá. It was incorporated into the National Railways in 1953.

Girardot Railway

Facatativá - Girardot

The construction of the Girardot Railway, the first that would link the capital with the Magdalena River, lasted 30 years: in 1881 the Cuban engineer Francisco Javier Cisneros was hired by the government to carry out the construction of the railway that would take the capital of its isolation. The railway corridor from Facatativá to Girardot, a mandatory passage for all traffic towards the capital, became between 1910 and 1970 the largest tourist attraction in the center of the country, as well as the most important railway in Colombian territory, with hundreds of passengers and immense volumes of cargo transported daily. The railway had a total of 80 steam engines for its operation until its incorporation into the National Railways in 1953.

Savannah Railway

El Corzo Railway Station

Railway station, declared immovable material heritage by decree 746 24IV-1996, It belongs to the national heritage complex of Railway Passenger Stations in Colombia. Century XIX - XX, This will be the second station of the Bogotá Sabana Commuter Train located in Facatativá, it will also serve to connect the service to the inhabitants of Bojacá.

El Cruce Railway Station

(Disappeared Property) Railway station, declared immovable material heritage by decree 746 24IV-1996, It belongs to the national heritage complex of Railway Passenger Stations in Colombia. Century XIX - XX. Currently the property does not exist, it was allowed to come to the apartment, no type of intervention was carried out for its recovery and due to various factors such as the weather it was destroyed. Due to its disappearance due to deterioration, a plaque can be marked and placed indicating the property that existed and the representativeness it had in history.

Facatativá Railway Station

Railway station, declared immovable material heritage by decree 746 24IV-1996. It belongs to the National Heritage Site of Railway Passenger Stations in Colombia. Century XIX - XX. Because the property was destroyed and built again, it lost its original infrastructure, therefore declaring it existing in the same way.

Manzano Railway Station

Railway station, declared immovable material heritage by decree 746 24IV-1996, It belongs to the national heritage complex of Railway Passenger Stations in Colombia. Century XIX - XX. Currently the property is deteriorated, inhabited by a family, requiring immediate intervention for its recovery.

Urban

Within the urban coverage, inhabitants move by bus to reach their destination. However, due to the size of the urban area, the demand for the use of this service is increasing, although only three vehicle companies are allowed to provide this service. The urban bus service has a terminal within the unified terminal sector. Likewise, it plans the construction of a unified terminal either in the place where it currently resides or on the outskirts of the city.

The city also has a taxi service provided by two of the same bus companies.

Veredal

The companies that provide the urban service (Transhycatá S.A., Auto Faca S.A., Transvilletax S.A.), are in charge of providing the rural route service together with an intermunicipal service company (Transportes Galaxia S.A.). These routes do not have a constant service, but rather depart at a few times a day.

Intermunicipal

The Bogotá Sabana Commuter Train that will connect Bogotá with the municipalities of Facatativá, Madrid, Funza and Mosquera, will have a route of 39.6 kilometers and 17 stations, will operate with 100% electric trains, will have a capacity of 884 passengers with a frequency of every 12 minutes between Faca and Madrid and 4 minutes between Madrid and Bogotá. The speed of construction is due to the fact that the railway tracks already exist and are in very good condition, and only a few modifications to the corridor and the construction of the carriages are needed. It is expected to be connected in Bogotá with TransMilenio, and the construction of the expansion of the 80th Street road corridor on the Medellín Highway has also been completed.

Likewise, on the other hand, the city has a transportation system to the other cities of the Western Sabana, others in Cundinamarca, Tolima, Antioquia, Caldas and the Colombian Atlantic Coast. Due to the small size of the current terminal, services that go to destinations outside of Cundinamarca have been forced to board and disembark outside of it.

Education

Education is not dependent on the Secretariat of Education of Cundinamarca. Education is municipal, that is, it depends exclusively on the criteria of its own secretariat, whether in terms of resources, election of delegates or regulations.

Schools

It has 11 public education institutions. Being dependent on the municipality, they carry the acronym IEM (Municipal Educational Institution) in their name. These are the IEM Agropecuaria Juan XXIII, Agropecuaria Policarpa Salvarrieta, I.E.M.T.E Cartagena, Comercial Santa Rita, Emilio Cifuentes, John F. Kennedy, La Arboleda, Manablanca, Manuela Ayala de Gaitán, Silveria Espinosa de Rendón and Técnico Industrial.

Among the private schools are the traditional Colegio Seminario San Juan Apóstol, Colegio Santa María de la Esperanza, Liceo Campestre Facatativá, Liceo Femenino Nuestra Señora del Pilar, Liceo Psicopedagógico Mayor de Cundinamarca, Empresarial los Andes, Mayor de West, El Libertador, Integrated Campestre Colombia Today and the Young World.

Universities

The universities in Facatativá have been characterized by offering similar programs, since although the university community is growing, there is not a sufficient number of students to cover the costs of a greater variety of programs.

Most higher education institutions are located in public buildings belonging to the municipal administration, which in many cases has not allowed the integration of a large number of students, however, Facatativá is a focus for higher studies with a high rate of individuals from surrounding municipalities (sometimes the natives of these municipalities are the majority because several facatativeños decide to study in the capital).

Among its universities and higher education entities are the UNAD, the University of Cundinamarca, the Santo Tomás University, the Minuto de Dios University Corporation, the Francisco de Paula Santander University, the San Martín University Foundation, the Antonio Nariño University, the National University of Colombia, the Escuela Normal Superior, the Sena, the University of Pamplona, the Uniagraria and the Cooperative University of Colombia.

Health

Facatativá has various hospitals and clinics such as the San Rafael de Facatativá Hospital, located near the Main Avenue.

Sports

Facatativá has special sports places. One of them is the Sports Center, which has a Skating Rink, Soccer Field, Tennis Court, Volleyball Court, Basketball Court, Futsal Court, Bowling Court among others.

It also has a Coliseum, where various sporting events of Basketball, Futsal and Skating take place, mainly. Its Football Stadium is located on the outskirts of Facatativá. There is also the Olympic Village which has different entertainment spaces such as the sports center. Finally, in 2015, a park was inaugurated to practice extreme sports on land next to the municipal stadium, also the large parks in our city. Among its notable athletes is the cyclist Fabio Duarte.

Culture

Currently it has Musical Training Schools in different fields, Symphonic Band, Philharmonic Orchestra, Party Band, Tuna, Estudiantentina and different instrumental ensembles. Some of their bands are popularly known in their environment for some of their achievements in recent years.

In recent years, Facatativá has become an important setting for Cundinamarca literature. In his writing, themes related to aboriginal cultures (among the most renowned writers) and those related to the illogicality of the world (among younger writers) stand out.

Starting in 2012, a writers' meeting is held in the city near the end of each year. The meeting is marked by the high presence of Colombian writers who, for the most part, have a relationship with indigenous cultures. On the other hand, it provides a possibility of contact with international writers (mostly Latin American) that is different from the fairs held in the country's large cities.

The painter Carlos Rojas González was born in Facatativá, as was the writer and journalist Abelardo Forero Benavides, who worked in the newspapers El Espectador and El Liberal, and directed the Saturday Magazine..

Religion

Facatativá, like most places in Colombia, maintains a tradition of Christianity, and more precisely of Catholicism, being the seat of the Diocese of Facatativá. The Diocese of Facatativá (in Latin: Dioecesis Facatativensis) is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Colombia, based in the municipality of the same name, and is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bogotá.

The diocese was erected on March 16, 1962 by Pope John XXIII. Its territory includes the municipalities of Albán, Bojacá, El Rosal, Facatativá, Funza, Guayabal de Síquima, La Vega, Madrid, Mosquera, Nimaima, Nocaima, Quebradanegra, San Francisco de Sales, Sasaima, Subachoque, Supatá, Tabio, Tenjo, Útica, Vergara, Villeta and Zipacón, that is, a large part of the western portion of the department of Cundinamarca. But, other religions based on Christianity are quite popular among many residents of the city, such as Protestants. It also has a small number of people belonging to other religions such as Muslims and Buddhism, mainly.

Tourism

Royal Roads

Some of the royal roads were laid out on the pre-Columbian trails used by the first settlers as a means of communication, marketing and bartering of products. Once paved, they served for the transit of horses, oxen and trains of freight mules, facilitating and promoting the development of a new social order whose strength is found in the populated centers on the road from Honda to Santa Fe de Bogotá.

Camino Real to Anolaima

The one that leads to Anolaima is perhaps the most emblematic royal road of Facatativá, due to the high frequency with which typical fauna of the region is found and the ancient but preserved architecture of some of its bridges. It is a cobbled path of more than 23 kilometers that is high above sea level and on which landscaping has been carried out.

Camino Real to Zipacón

The one that leads to Zipacón is completely paved and retains its natural structure from the colony. During its 11 kilometer route it is possible to see only flora. The one in La Vega is less than 12 km and has a high degree of landscaping. Its flora is abundant but not its fauna.

Old railway road to Mancilla

Road where the railway track was formerly located that ran from the old station located in Facatativá to the Coal mines, the old railway track gave way to the current roadway, there are crops of strawberries, peas, potatoes and livestock, as well There is a rock with indigenous pictograms of great cultural importance, the road has served for the development of the area, since it is the main access to the Mancilla trail, currently it is an unpaved road but it is maintained in good condition for traffic, however its original state has been lost due to the construction of the road.

Camino Real La Selva

Royal road built in the colonial era, connects the municipality of Facatativá with the Gualivá region. The municipality has 9.6 km of jurisdiction over the royal road, which is preserved in its natural state in some sections, in others it has been absorbed by nature, it is surrounded by flora and fauna typical of the high Andean forest, where They find some species of birds and mammals. Currently the path is used by some farmers and on weekends by groups of walkers.

Camino Real San Rafael

Royal road built in the colonial era, it connects the municipalities of Facatativá and Sasaima. The municipality has 4.5 km of jurisdiction over the royal road, which is preserved in its natural state in some sections, in others it has been absorbed by nature, it is surrounded by flora and fauna typical of the high Andean forest, where They find some species of birds and mammals. Currently the path is used by some farmers and on weekends by groups of walkers.

Camino Real Facatativá-Albán

Royal road that connects the municipalities of Facatativá and Albán (Cundinamarca), Built in the colonial era. The municipality has 2.5 km within its jurisdiction, it is surrounded by typical high Andean forest nature, and characteristic fauna of the Area, it has a stretch of approximately 500 m parallel to the Polyduct, it was restored 3 years ago, with resources from of the Government of Cundinamarca.

Archaeological Park

The stones of the Facatativá Archaeological Park are found in an ancient glacial lake, and the rocks lie far from the original table, sunken and, were placed further away and stacked by the action of the waves and the transport of the sedimentation of the lake.

Popularly they were known as Piedras de Tunja, a name that is explained to have been given to the place by distortion of the word Hunza (seat of the Muisca government), it is also said that it is due to the inspiration & #34;Roca de Tunja" placed on one of the stones by the military expedition of [José de Rojas Acosta], who came from Tunja and camped there in 1739. Research has been carried out in the park to decipher the unknowns that the place raises. In 1950, a Cuban commission analyzed the pictograms seen on the rocks and marked them with numbers.

The geological formation of the site is large stone blocks like a cornice, which in ancient times formed the shores of the ancient lake that covered a large part of the Bogotá Savannah, rocks that left shelters and labyrinths that were used as sites of housing by indigenous people. The promontories that form an outcrop of the strata are flat at the top, constituting terraces carved by the ancient lake; labyrinthine siltstone crusts were produced when they were free from the waters and were exposed to the elements.

In 2013 the municipal government granted a concession to the National University for the restoration of the pictograms, through cleaning the dust accumulated for years and eliminating paintings made by vandals. This process extended until 2014 and as a result the Muisca pictograms remain in an almost original state; Also, said cleaning discovered new pictograms that were not known about. Likewise, the National University was allowed to carry out archaeological excavations that made important discoveries of vestiges that could be the oldest of the presence of man in Colombian territory. The construction of a museum is planned to store the findings and avoid their transfer to the city of Bogotá.

On May 1, 2017, a small plane crashed on Manjuy Hill, leaving eight fatalities, coming from the Tolemaida military base (Melgar, Tolima) that was heading to Guaymaral Airport.

Other places of interest

Manjuy Hill is the highest mountain in the Bogotá Savannah. From its peak it is possible to have an almost complete panoramic view of the city. Likewise, its southern side is covered by forests that extend to the municipality of Zipacón. One of the most representative elements of this hill are the repeater towers that are used as elements for telecommunications in the region. Likewise, on its southern side, it is possible to find wetlands, flora and fauna typical of the region. On May 1, 2017, a military plane crashed on that hill, leaving 8 fatalities. According to aeronautical experts, the accident was similar to LaMia Flight 2933 that crashed on Cerro Gordo on November 28, 2016 in the department. of Antioch.

El Alto de la Tribuna, located on the borders of Facatativá and Albán, constitutes a high hill that allows a wide view of the Magdalena Valley in the early morning hours and with clear skies. Likewise, the landscape, today planted with eucalyptus, contains one of the largest fauna reserves, with ocelots and sloths, among other animals, being found in the nearby forests. Near this height, also, various basins have their sources.

The Olympic Village is located in the west of the city. It is the largest in the Western Sabana Province. It has facilities for a wide number of sports and allows a view of different green areas.

Today preserved as a National Monument, the old San Rafael Hospital remains next to its current counterpart.

The Parque de las Ferias houses a pavilion known as the Palacete. This park, in addition to contrasting between the old and the current, allows an exclusive recreation area for children, with different attractions.

The Plaza or Parque Santander is known for having been the first Main Plaza of the city. Later, in commemoration of those who were shot in this square at the hands of the Spanish colonial army, it was named Plaza de los Mártires. However, after renovations to its infrastructure, its emblematic obelisk was built in the name of the martyrs and was renamed Santander Park.

The Tisquesusa park housed the statue of Tisquesusa that was dismantled after its deterioration at the hands of young people. It contains a wooded area with willows and a small playground that has also suffered vandalism. Las Tinguas Linear Park is one of the most recent, it constitutes a linear park that extends along streets 13 and 14 from Carrera 4 to Carrera 13. Santa Rita Park is located in the central Santa Rita neighborhood, this park has a combination of green, recreational and sports spaces.