Somondoco
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Somondoco
|native_name =
|nickname =
|motto =
|settlement_type = Municipality and town
|image_skyline = PlazaTorosSomon.JPG
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Bull fighting arena Somondoco
|image_flag = Flag of Somondoco (Boyacá).svg
|image_seal =
|image_map = Colombia - Boyaca - Somondoco.svg
|mapsize = 250px
|map_caption = Location of the municipality and town of Somondoco in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
|pushpin_map =
|pushpin_mapsize = 300
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Colombia
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Colombia}}
|subdivision_type1 = Department
|subdivision_name1 = Boyacá Department
|subdivision_type2 = Province
|subdivision_name2 = Eastern Boyacá Province
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = Edison Rolando Gaitán Roa
(2020-2023)
|established_title = Founded
|established_date = 6 November 1537
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 58.7
|area_total_sq_mi =
|area_land_km2 =
|area_land_sq_mi =
|area_water_km2 =
|area_water_sq_mi =
|area_water_percent =
|area_urban_km2 = 2.4
|area_urban_sq_mi =
|area_metro_km2 =
|area_metro_sq_mi =
|population_as_of = 2015
|population_note =
|population_total = 3632
|population_density_km2 = auto
|population_density_sq_mi =
|population_metro =
|population_density_metro_km2 =
|population_density_metro_sq_mi =
|population_urban = 795
|coordinates =
|timezone = Colombia Standard Time
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|elevation_m = 1670
|elevation_ft =
|website = [http://www.somondoco-boyaca.gov.co/ Official website]
|footnotes =
}}
Somondoco is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá. This town and larger municipal area are located in the Valle de Tenza. The Valle de Tenza is the ancient route connecting the Altiplano Cundiboyacense and the Llanos. The area is dotted with many such little towns all located at approximately the same altitude (1500–1700 meters). Somondoco borders Almeida in the east, Guayatá in the west, Guateque and Sutatenza in the north and in the south the Cundinamarca municipality of Ubalá.{{in lang|es}} [http://www.somondoco-boyaca.gov.co/informacion_general.shtml Official website Somondoco]
The nearest larger town is Guateque which is about 30 minutes away by car. In Somondoco are several small companies producing handicrafts and collectables.
Etymology
Somondoco is derived from the Chibcha words So = stone, Mon = bath, Co = support. The village is named after cacique Somendoco or Sumindoco.{{in lang|es}} [http://www.excelsio.net/2011/11/sabe-el-origen-del-nombre-de-su.html Etymology Somondoco] - Excelsio.net
History
Somondoco is a very old center of population extending back into prehistory. The Muisca settled here due to the abundance of emeralds mined in the Andes mountains.
When the Spanish conquistadores led by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada arrived, Somondoco was ruled by a cacique named Sumindoco. He was loyal to the zaque of Hunza. The date of foundation of Somondoco is November 6, 1537.{{in lang|es}} [https://www.emaze.com/@ACFFZFTQ/Problematica-del-municipio-de-somondoco Foundation of Somondoco November 6, 1537]
Economy
Main economical activities of Somondoco are emerald mining and agriculture; maize, tomatoes, sugar cane, beans, bananas and coffee.
File:Somodoco desde guateque.JPG|View of Somondoco
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References
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Further reading
- {{citation |last1=Branquet |first1=Yannick |last2=Laumonier |first2=Bernard |last3=Cheilletz |first3=Alain |last4=Giuliani |first4=Gaston |year=1999 |title=Emeralds in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia: Two tectonic settings for one mineralization |url=http://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/pleins_textes_7/b_fdi_51-52/010019064.pdf |journal=Geology |volume=27 |issue=7 |pages=597–600 |doi=10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<0597:EITECO>2.3.CO;2 |bibcode=1999Geo....27..597B |accessdate=2017-01-05}}
- {{citation |last1=Giuliani |first1=Gaston |last2=Cheilletz |first2=Alain |last3=Arboleda |first3=Carlos |last4=Carrillo |first4=Victor |last5=Rueda |first5=Félix |last6=Baker |first6=James H. |year=1995 |title=An evaporitic origin of the parent brines of Colombian emeralds: fluid inclusion and sulphur isotope evidence |url=http://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/pleins_textes_6/b_fdi_35-36/42470.pdf |journal=European Journal of Mineralogy |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=151–165 |doi=10.1127/ejm/7/1/0151 |bibcode=1995EJMin...7..151G |accessdate=2017-01-05}}
- {{citation |last=Ortega Medina |first=Laura Milena |year=2007 |title=Tipología y condiciones de formaciónde las manifestaciones del sector esmeraldífero "Peña Coscuez" (municipio San Pablo de Borbur, Boyacá) (MSc.) |url=http://repositorio.uis.edu.co/jspui/bitstream/123456789/1261/2/124138.pdf |publisher=Universidad Industrial de Santander |pages=1–121 |accessdate=2017-01-05}}
- {{citation |last1=Pignatelli |first1=Isabella |last2=Giuliani |first2=Gaston |last3=Ohnenstetter |first3=Daniel |last4=Agrosì |first4=Giovanna |last5=Mathieu |first5= Sandrine |last6=Morlot |first6=Christophe |last7=Branquet |first7=Yannick |year=2015 |title=Colombian Trapiche Emeralds: Recent Advances in Understanding Their Formation |journal=Gems & Gemology |volume=LI |pages=222–259|doi=10.5741/GEMS.51.3.222 }}
External links
{{commons category|Somondoco}}
{{Municipalities boyaca department}}
{{Mining in Colombia}}
{{Colombian emeralds|state=expanded}}
{{coord|4.98778|N|73.4361|W|source:kolossus-itwiki|display=title}}