META
Inhabitant: Metense
This department, together with Arauca, Casanare and Vichada, form the
Colombian Orinoquia or the Eastern Plains.
During the colonial period, until 1867, this region was part of the
State of Cundinamarca. In 1909 it became
Indendencia. In 1959,
Law 118 created the department of Meta. It began to function as such on
July 1, 1960.
Its territorial surface covers 85,635 square kilometres and borders the
departments of Cundinamarca, Boyacá, Casanare, Vichada, Guaviare,
Caquetá and Huila.
Eighty per cent of the territory is made up of plains, covered by
pastures, bushes and small trees. The average temperature in the plains
area is 29 degrees Celsius. The mountainous region, which has various
climates, is formed by the western side of the eastern mountain range
(cordillera Oriental) and the "La Macarena" mountain range.
Fast-flowing rivers with dramatic waterfalls
run through its land. The most important rivers are the Meta, Ariari,
Guayabero, Guayabira, Manacacías, Metica, Guamal, Humadea, Yucao,
Upía and Humea.
The department's main source of wealth is agriculture, with an emphasis
on livestock. It is Colombia's second most important rice producer.
Among its natural beauties is the natural park of La Macarena,
Caño Cristales (Crystals stream) is found. One of the
most beautiful streams in the world, its waters have five different
colours to appreciate. You will also find the national parks of Los
Picachos, Sumapaz and Tinigua.
The landscapes seen in the different regions of Meta as the sun rises
and sets are of extraordinary beauty.
Meta has approximately 780,000 inhabitants with a predominantly male
population.
The typical plainsman or
llanero is strong and industrious with
a great attachment to his land. He is also conservative in his
traditions and myths. The
llanera music, whose predominant
instruments are the harp, the cuarto and the maracas, is a symbol of the
Eastern Plains.
Capital: Villavicencio
The city of Villavicencio is commonly called "Villavo” and is
known as the “Door of the Plains". It is located at the foot of the
eastern mountain range, in northwest Meta. Its average temperature is
about 28 degrees Celsius.
It was founded on the land known as the community of Apiay. The first
settler established there in 1840 and named the place Gramalote. In 1850
its name was changed to Villavicencio.
The city now has approximately 350,000 inhabitants. It is the largest
city in the Eastern Plains.
It has many important educational and art centres, museums, music and
dance schools. It has open spaces for public events, such as the
acoustic shell-shaped Luis Ariel Rey and Arnulfo Briceño
auditoriums. It also has many theatres, sport centres, stadiums, hotels,
restaurants and bars.
Villavo has impressive monuments, such as those dedicated to Cristo Rey,
the Founders and the Fallen, and beautiful parks like the Liberators
Park, the Park of Life, the Journalists' Park, among many others.
Villavicencio is the capital of the Colombian landscapes and origin of
the Colombian music festivals.
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