11°18N 74°10W, pop (2000e) 201 500. Caribbean port in N Colombia; at mouth of R Manzanares; 96 km/60 mi E of Barranquilla, to which it is linked by road and bridge (1974); founded by Rodrigo de Bastidas, 1525; Simón Bolívar died here, 1830; airport; railway; oil terminal; trade in bananas, coffee, cocoa; leading seaside resort.
| Santa Marta | |||||
| El Rodadero Beach | |||||
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| Nickname: "''America's Pearl (La Perla de America)" | |||||
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Location in the Department of Magdalena. Municipality (dark gray) City (red) |
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| Region | Caribbean Region (Colombia) | ||||
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| Department | |||||
| Foundation | July 29, 1525 | ||||
| Mayor | José Francisco Zúñiga Riascos, MCV | ||||
| Area | |||||
| - City | km² (2,369 sq mi) | ||||
| - Urban | 1,472 km² | ||||
| Elevation | 1 m | ||||
| Population | |||||
| - City (2002 *) | 410,309 | ||||
| - Urban | 394,168 | ||||
| *Santa Marta's metropolitan area is yet to be determined. | |||||
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Website: www.santamarta.gov.co |
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Santa Marta is a city and municipality, located in northwestern Colombia by the Caribbean sea, capital of the Magdalena Department.
The city was founded in July 29, 1525 by Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, accompanied by some two hundred of his men and a few amerindians. However many historians argue that he named it after the Spanish city of Santa Marta de Astorgas, which he had visited .
During the Colonial times the city started losing its importance as maritime port to nearby city port of Cartagena.
Geography and climate
Geography
Santa Marta is set by the Caribbean Sea against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, a mountain named after the city.
Since 1989, Santa Marta has been a "Special District", based on the Article 328 of the Colombian Constitution Law 768 of 2002, which gave the city the suffix of "Tourism, Cultural and Historical District" (Distrito Turístico, Cultural e Histórico).
Urban area The urban area is divided into eight communes (comunas):
María Eugenia - Pando Comuna Central Pescaito - Taganga Polideportivo - El Jardín Santafé - Bastidas Parque - Mamatoco - 11 de Noviembre Gaira - El Rodadero Pozos Colorados - Don JacaRural area The rural area is made up of corregimientos (and the subdivisions of this called veredas);
Guachaca Minca y Bonda the "Arhuacos" Indian Reserve TagangaClimate
Temperatures in the city of Santa Marta ranges from 18.65 to 31.15 degrees Celsius at sea level, but the Municipality of Santa Marta stratches up to the highest snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.
Gallery
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Rodadero Beach at night |
Santa Marta Sunset - Sept 2006 |
Sunset - sept 2006 |
Santa Marta aquarium |
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Aereal view from Irotama hotel |
Kids playing in Santa Marta beach |
Departament Capitals
San Andres • Riohacha • Santa Marta • Barranquilla • Monteria • Sincelejo • Valledupar • Cartagena
Other Cities and Towns
Maicao • Sabanalarga • Mompox • Aracataca • Magangue • La Paz • Providencia Island • Tolú
Coordinates: 11°14′31″N, 74°12′19″W
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