Tópaga | |
Settlement Type: | Municipality and town |
Mapsize: | 250px |
Pushpin Mapsize: | 300 |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Colombia |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Colombia |
Subdivision Type1: | Department |
Subdivision Name1: | Boyacá Department |
Subdivision Type2: | Province |
Subdivision Name2: | Sugamuxi Province |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Leader Name: | Álvaro Henry Barrera Díaz (2020-2023) |
Established Title: | Founded |
Established Date: | 6 March 1593 |
Founder: | Álvaro Leiva |
Area Total Km2: | 37 |
Area Urban Km2: | 6.4 |
Population As Of: | 2015 |
Population Total: | 3694 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Population Urban: | 1406 |
Timezone: | Colombia Standard Time |
Utc Offset: | -5 |
Elevation M: | 2900 |
Website: | Official website |
Tópaga (pronounced as /es/) is a town and municipality in the Sugamuxi Province, part of the Colombian department of Boyacá. Tópaga is situated on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense with the urban center at an altitude of 2900m (9,500feet) while the topography varies over the municipality from 2400m (7,900feet) to 3200m (10,500feet). It borders Nobsa and Corrales in the west, in the east Mongua and Gámeza, in the north Gámeza and in the south Monguí and Sogamoso. Department capital Tunja is 98km (61miles) away. Chicamocha River flows through Tópaga.[1]
The name Tópaga comes from Chibcha and means "Behind father river".[2]
Before the Spanish conquest, Tópaga was inhabited by the Muisca. The village was ruled by a cacique with the same name as the village, loyal to the iraca of Sugamuxi. The iraca was educated by messenger god Bochica according to the religion of the Muisca.[1]
Modern Tópaga was founded in 1593 by Álvaro Leiva.[1]
Main economical activity of Tópaga is coal mining, used to produce electrical energy.[1]