Yaguará

Yaguará (Spanish pronunciation: [ʝaɣwaˈɾa]) is a town and municipality in the Huila Department, Colombia. The urban centre is located at an elevation of 650 metres (2,130 ft) in the Magdalena River Valley and the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes. The municipality borders Teruel and Palermo in the north, Gigante, Hobo and Tesalia in the south, Campoalegre and Hobo in the east and Tesalia and Iquira in the west. The departmental capital Neiva is 49 kilometres (30 mi) to the northeast. The Betania Reservoir is situated within the boundaries of Yaguará.[1]

Yaguará
Municipality and town
Central square and church
Flag
Seal
Location of the municipality and town of Yaguará in the Huila Department of Colombia
Coordinates: 2.66611°N 75.5186°W / 2.66611; -75.5186
Country Colombia
DepartmentHuila
SubregionSubnorte
Founded13 March 1623
Founded byFrancisco Gómez Quintero
Government
 • MayorRafael Ramírez González
(2016-2019)
Area
 • Municipality and town329 km2 (127 sq mi)
Elevation
650 m (2,130 ft)
Population
 (2015)
 • Municipality and town8,952
 • Density27/km2 (70/sq mi)
 • Urban
7,587
Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
WebsiteOfficial website

Etymology

The name Yaguará is derived from the jaguar.[1]

History

In the time before the Spanish conquest, the region of Yaguará was inhabited by the Páez. They defended their territory against the Pijao, who came from nearby Tolima and later against the Spanish conquistadors.[1]

Modern Yaguará was founded on March 13, 1623 by Francisco Gómez Quintero, under command of the governor of Neiva Diego de Ospina y Medinilla.[1]

Paleontology

Fossils of the Late Cretaceous (Turonian) mosasaur Yaguarasaurus were found in the La Frontera Formation in Yaguará and the species was named after the town.[2]

Panorama of the Betania Reservoir
  • Church of Yaguará
  • Church by night
  • Rural Yaguará
  • Betania Reservoir
  • Betania Reservoir Dam

References
  1. Official website Yaguará
  2. Yaguarasaurus columbianus at Fossilworks.org
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