Bogotá

views updated Jun 08 2018

Bogotá Capital of Colombia, in the centre of the country on a fertile plateau. Bogotá was founded in 1538 by the Spanish on the site of a Chibcha Indian settlement. In 1819 it became the capital of Greater Colombia, part of which later formed Colombia. Today, it is a centre for culture, education and finance. It has some fine examples of Spanish colonial architecture. Industries: tobacco, sugar, flour, textiles, engineering, chemicals. Pop. (2002 est.) 6,668,500.