Güicán Explained

Güicán
Settlement Type:Municipality and town
Mapsize:250px
Pushpin Map:Colombia
Pushpin Mapsize:300
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Colombia
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Colombia
Subdivision Type1:Department
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Gutiérrez
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Juan de Jesús Estupiñan Pérez
Established Date:February 26, 1756
Area Total Km2:934.04
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:6426
Population Density Km2:auto
Coordinates:6.4625°N -72.4119°W
Utc Offset:-5
Elevation M:3492
Official Name:Guicán de la Sierra
Timezone1:COT
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:151440

Güicán de la Sierra, also known as Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de Güicán, is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá. It is close to the national natural park El Cocuy National Park.[1] As of the year 2020, it has a total population of 6,426.[2]

Etymology

The municipality was named after Güicán tribe, an indigenous people who inhabited this region and is related to the U'wa people. The name Güicán means "in the fence of the wife" in the indigenous language.[3]

History

The conquistador of this territory was Hernán Pérez de Quesada, who arrived with his troops in search of gold. The aborigines withdrew behind the Sierra Nevada to escape from the Spanish.[4] The municipality was founded by a Jesuit friar Miguel Blasco on February 26, 1756.[5]

Geography

The municipality borders Chiscas and Cubará on the north, Fortul and Saravena on the east, Tame and El Cocuy on the south, as well as Panqueba and El Espino on the west. Its average elevation is at 3,492 meters above the sea level.[6]

Climate

Güicán has a Tundra Climate (ET). It receives the most amount of rainfall in April, with 244 mm of average precipitation; and the least in January, with 83 mm of average precipitation.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Paz. Manuel María. View of the Snow-capped Mount Chita and of the Great Snowfields near Güicán, Province of Tundama. World Digital Library. 2014-05-21.
  2. Book: COLOMBIA. PROYECCIONES DE POBLACIÓN MUNICIPALES POR ÁREA . es . 2023-04-05.
  3. Web site: BOYACÁ-GÜICÁN . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405203102/http://www.colombiaturismoweb.com/DEPARTAMENTOS/BOYACA/MUNICIPIOS/GUICAN/GUICAN.htm . 2023-04-05 . www.colombiaturismoweb.com . es.
  4. Book: Fajardo, José del Rey . Los Jesuitas en Venezuela: Las misiones germen de la nacionalidad . 2006 . Universidad Catolica Andres . 978-980-244-519-6 . 133 . es.
  5. Web site: Nuestro Municipio, Información general . 2023-04-05 . www.guican-boyaca.gov.co . es . 2015-05-29 . https://archive.today/20150529171904/http://www.guican-boyaca.gov.co/informacion_general.shtml . dead .
  6. Web site: Güicán topographic map, elevation, terrain . 2023-04-05 . Topographic maps . en.