Vichada Department

Vichada is located in the eastern plains of Colombia, in the Orinoquía Region within the Orinoco river basin bordering the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the north and east. To the north the department also borders with Arauca Department, to the northwest with Casanare Department, to the west with Meta Department, to the southwest narrowly bordering with Guaviare Department and to the south with Guainía Department. The department is the second largest in Colombia and scarcely populated in comparison to other departments.

Vichada Department Departamento del Vichada
Department
A road in Vichada, 2006
Flag Coat of arms
Motto(s):  Tierra de hombres para hombres sin tierra Land of men for men without land
Vichada shown in red
Topography of the department
Coordinates: 6°11′N 67°28′W / 6.183°N 67.467°W / 6.183; -67.467
Country	Colombia
Region	Orinoquía Region
Established	5 July 1913
Capital	Puerto Carreño
Government
• Governor	Luis Carlos Alvarez Morales (2016-2019)
Area
• Total	100,242 km2 (38,704 sq mi)
• Rank	2nd
Population  (2018)
• Total	107,808
• Rank	31st
• Density	1.1/km2 (2.8/sq mi)
GDP
• Total	COP 957 billion (US$ 0.2 billion)
Time zone	UTC-05
ISO 3166 code	CO-VID
Municipalities	4
HDI (2019)	0.754 high · 15th of 33
Website	www.gobvichada.gov.co

The department was previously a commissary established in 1913.

The largest town and capital of the department is Puerto Carreño located in extreme northeastern part of the department and bordering Venezuela. the department is subdivided into four municipalities; Puerto Carreño, La Primavera, Santa Rosalía and Cumaribo. It also contains 46 indigenous reserves and 6 communities.

The department is located on the eastern plains of Colombia known as the Llanos. The department limits to the north with the Arauca Department and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; to the east with Venezuela; to the south with the Guainía Department and Guaviare Department; and to the west with Meta Department and Casanare Department.

The department is located to the left margin of the Orinoco river and the right margin of the Meta River within the plains of los Llanos. Part of the department lies on the Guiana Shield. Soil lacks sediments due to the lack of alluvions from rivers coming from the Andes mountains.

Climate in the department is predominantly hot and humid with an average temperature of 28 °C (82 °F) throughout the year.

In 1913 the government of Colombia created the commissary of Vichada and the capital was established in a locality known as El Picacho between the Meta and Orinoco rivers. The town was named Puerto Carreño in honor of Pedro María Carreño, then acting Minister of Government.

In August 1974, Puerto Carreño was elevated to the category of municipality by decree 1594 of that same year.

On 5 July 1991 Vichada was elevated to the category of department and Puerto Carreño as its capital.

Municipalities

 

1. Cumaribo
2. La Primavera
3. Puerto Carreño
4. Santa Rosalía
5. San José de Ocune