Santa Marta

Santa Marta (Spanish pronunciation: [ˌsanta ˈmaɾta]), officially Distrito Turístico, Cultural e Histórico de Santa Marta ("Touristic, Cultural and Historic District of Santa Marta"), is a city of half a million people, in the nation of Colombia. It is the capital of Magdalena Department and the fourth-largest urban city of the Caribbean Region of Colombia, after Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Soledad. Founded on July 29, 1525, by the Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, it was the first Spanish settlement in Colombia, its oldest surviving city, and second oldest in South America.[3] This city is situated on a bay by the same name and as such, it is a prime tourist destination in the Caribbean region.[4]

This article is about the Colombian city. For other uses, see Santa Marta (disambiguation).

Santa Marta
City
Top: Panorama view of the Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta, from inside the swamp, 2nd left: View of Mirador in Cabo San Juan del Guia, Tayrona Natural Park, 2nd right: Santa Marta Cathedral (La Casa del Farol), 3rd left: Statue of Simon Bolívar in Quinta of Saint Pedro Alejandrino, 3rd upper middle: Colombian National Pantheon in Barrio Mamatoco, 3rd lower middle: Night view of Santa Marta City Hall, 3rd right: Twilight view of Tribute to the Tayrona Ethnicity Square, Bottom: Panoramic view of Acuatico El Rodadero Park and resort area, from the Gaira area
Flag
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): 
America's Pearl (La Perla de America)
Location in the Department of Magdalena.
Municipality (dark grey)
City (red)
Santa Marta
Location in Colombia
Coordinates: 11°14′31″N 74°12′19″W
Country Colombia
RegionCaribbean Region
DepartmentMagdalena
FoundationJuly 29, 1525
Founded byRodrigo de Bastidas
Named forMartha
Government
 • MayorVirna Johnson (2020-2023) (Fuerza Ciudadana)
Area
 • City2,393.65 km2 (924.07 sq mi)
 • Urban
55.10 km2 (21.27 sq mi)
Elevation
6 m (20 ft)
Highest elevation
5,775 m (18,947 ft)
Population
 (2018 Census[1])
 • City499,192
 • Density210/km2 (540/sq mi)
 • Urban
455,299
 • Urban density8,300/km2 (21,000/sq mi)
 DANE
Demonym(s)Samario
Time zoneUTC-05 (Colombia Standard Time)
Postal code
470001-470017[2]
Area code(s)57 + 5
WebsiteOfficial website (in Spanish)

History

Pre-Columbian times
Further information: Pre-Columbian era

Before the arrival of Europeans, the South American continent was inhabited by a number of indigenous groups. Due to a combination of tropical weather, significant rainfall, and the destruction and misrepresentation of many records by Spanish conquistadors, our understanding of the peoples of this region is limited.

The Tairona formed mid- to large-size population centers, consisting of stone pathways, terraces, protected waterways, and spaces dedicated to agricultural produce. Their economy was primarily agricultural, cultivating corn, pineapple, yucca, and other local foodstuffs. The Tayrona are considered quite advanced for their time period. Surviving archaeological sites consisted of formed terraces and small scale underground stone channels. They also were known to actively collect and process salt, which was a significant trading commodity. We know that they traded with other indigenous groups along the coast and interior. Archaeological excavations have recovered significant works in pottery, stonework and gold.

Flag

Santa Marta’s flag consists of two colors: white and blue. White symbolises peace, in that all are united without restriction. Blue symbolises the sky, the sea, the magic found in the horizon, and the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains.

Flag of Santa Marta

Geography
Vista satelital de la Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

Santa Marta is located on Santa Marta Bay of the Caribbean Sea in the province of Magdalena. It is 992 km from Bogotá and 93 km from Barranquilla. It is bordered to the north and west by the Caribbean and to the south by the municipalities of Aracataca and Ciénaga.

Economy

Santa Marta's economy is based on tourism, trade, port activities, fishing and agriculture, in that order. The main agricultural products are: bananas, coffee, cocoa and cassava.

Infrastructure

Santa Marta is a major port. Simon Bolivar International Airport (IATA: SMR ) is 16 km (10 mi) from the city centre. Historic figure Simon Bolivar died here, a significant event for South America as a whole. His villa known as La Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino is located just outside the city centre. As the main city centre is located close to the coast, the city itself has had difficulty controlling expansion. Although, technically a separate locality, Rodadero is often considered part of Santa Marta itself.

  • Rodadero, Santa Marta
  • Rodadero aquarium
  • Traditional house in Santa Marta
  • The cathedral (inner view)
  • On central square
  • The cathedral

Climate

Santa Marta experiences a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh) with largely uniform temperatures year round. The dry season lasts from December-April, while the wet season lasts from May-November.

Climate data for Santa Marta (Simón Bolívar International Airport) 1981-2010
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 37.0
(98.6)		 38.2
(100.8)		 37.0
(98.6)		 37.6
(99.7)		 37.4
(99.3)		 37.4
(99.3)		 37.8
(100.0)		 37.4
(99.3)		 37.2
(99.0)		 36.2
(97.2)		 38.2
(100.8)		 37.6
(99.7)		 38.2
(100.8)
Average high °C (°F) 33.0
(91.4)		 33.6
(92.5)		 33.8
(92.8)		 33.6
(92.5)		 32.9
(91.2)		 33.0
(91.4)		 33.0
(91.4)		 32.8
(91.0)		 32.5
(90.5)		 32.1
(89.8)		 32.1
(89.8)		 32.4
(90.3)		 32.9
(91.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27.4
(81.3)		 27.9
(82.2)		 28.4
(83.1)		 28.9
(84.0)		 29.1
(84.4)		 29.1
(84.4)		 28.8
(83.8)		 28.6
(83.5)		 28.3
(82.9)		 27.9
(82.2)		 27.8
(82.0)		 27.5
(81.5)		 28.3
(82.9)
Average low °C (°F) 22.3
(72.1)		 23.2
(73.8)		 24.2
(75.6)		 25.3
(77.5)		 25.5
(77.9)		 25.1
(77.2)		 24.6
(76.3)		 24.5
(76.1)		 24.3
(75.7)		 24.2
(75.6)		 23.8
(74.8)		 22.7
(72.9)		 24.1
(75.4)
Record low °C (°F) 17.4
(63.3)		 18.3
(64.9)		 20.0
(68.0)		 19.0
(66.2)		 18.0
(64.4)		 19.0
(66.2)		 18.0
(64.4)		 18.0
(64.4)		 17.0
(62.6)		 17.0
(62.6)		 17.0
(62.6)		 18.0
(64.4)		 17.0
(62.6)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 3.1
(0.12)		 2.0
(0.08)		 2.3
(0.09)		 14.1
(0.56)		 55.4
(2.18)		 60.7
(2.39)		 59.6
(2.35)		 70.0
(2.76)		 88.3
(3.48)		 111.0
(4.37)		 63.5
(2.50)		 15.2
(0.60)		 545.3
(21.47)
Average rainy days 0 1 1 3 7 9 10 13 13 13 8 2 80
Average relative humidity (%) 74 72 72 74 76 76 77 78 79 80 79 76 76
Mean monthly sunshine hours 285.2 248.6 251.1 228.0 223.2 228.0 232.5 220.1 201.0 204.6 219.0 269.7 2,811
Mean daily sunshine hours 9.2 8.8 8.1 7.6 7.2 7.6 7.5 7.1 6.7 6.6 7.3 8.7 7.7
Source: Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales[5][6][7]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. https://www.dane.gov.co/files/varios/informacion-capital-DANE-2019.pdf
  2. "Santa Marta Postal Codes". Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  3. "Santa Marta historia y tradición" (in Spanish). Ministerio de Educación Nacional. Retrieved 2009. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  4. "Colombia" (in Spanish). Decameron. Archived from the original on 26 February 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  5. "Promedios Climatológicos 1981–2010" (in Spanish). Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  6. "Promedios Climatológicos 1971–2000" (in Spanish). Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  7. "Tiempo y Clima" (in Spanish). Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.

Guía Turística de Santa Marta, Colombia

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