Vichada Department
Vichada Department (Spanish: Departamento del Vichada, Spanish pronunciation: [biˈtʃaða]) is a department of the Republic of Colombia in South America. 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 | |
|---|---|
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 | |
| 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.