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Gámeza

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(Redirected from Gameza) Municipality and town in Boyacá Department, Colombia
Gámeza
Municipality and town
Town entranceTown entrance
Flag of GámezaFlag
Location of the municipality and town of Gámeza in the Boyacá Department of ColombiaLocation of the municipality and town of Gámeza in the Boyacá Department of Colombia
Country Colombia
DepartmentBoyacá Department
ProvinceSugamuxi Province
Founded4 November 1585
Government
 • MayorJosé Alirio Ochica Pérez
(2020–2023)
Area
 • Municipality and town88 km (34 sq mi)
 • Urban70 km (30 sq mi)
Elevation2,750 m (9,020 ft)
Population
 • Municipality and town4,856
 • Density55/km (140/sq mi)
 • Urban1,566
Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
WebsiteOfficial website

Gámeza (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈɣamesa]) is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Boyacá, part of the Sugamuxi Province, a subregion of Boyacá. The town center is located at 18 kilometres (11 mi) from Sogamoso and the municipality borders Tasco and Corrales in the north, Tópaga and Mongua in the south, in the east Socotá and westward of Gámeza Corrales and Tópaga.

History

Before the Spanish conquest of the Muisca in the 1530s, Gámeza was inhabited first by indigenous groups during the Herrera Period and later part of the Muisca Confederation, the former country of the Muisca in the central highlands (Altiplano Cundiboyacense) of Colombia. The confederation was ruled by zaques in Hunza (present-day Tunja), zipas in Bacatá and caciques of other villages. Gámeza was part of the reign of the iraca of Sugamuxi, currently known as Sogamoso.

With the election of a new ruler of Sugamuxi, the cacique of Gámeza was consulted, together with the leaders of Busbanzá, Toca, Boyacá and Pesca among the nobles of Firavitoba and Tobasía. In case of conflict, the ruler of Tundama would intervene.

The first Europeans encountering the Muisca were the troops led by conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada in 1537. The last zaque beaten by the Spanish soldiers was Aquiminzaque whose primary wife was the daughter of the cacique of Gámeza.

Gámeza was conquered and Spanish missionaries were sent to convert the indigenous people to catholicism. On November 4, 1585 Gámeza was properly founded.

The name Gámeza comes from Gamza, name of the cacique of the village. Gá and za in the Chibcha language of the Muisca mean "serf of the Sun" and "night" respectively.

Geography

Gámeza is located in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes. In the area gold deposits are present and the Chicamocha River originates in Gámeza.

Economy

Main economical activities in Gámeza are dairy farming and agriculture; potatoes, peas, maize, wheat and barley. Coal mining forms another important source of income for the villagers.

Gallery

  • Gámeza River Gámeza River
  • Gámeza River at village entrance Gámeza River at village entrance
  • Former bridge over the Gámeza River Former bridge over the Gámeza River

References

  1. ^ (in Spanish) Official website Gámeza Archived 2017-01-12 at the Wayback Machine - accessed 04-05-2016
  2. (in Spanish) Etymology Gámeza - accessed 04-05-2016
Provinces and Municipalities in Boyacá Department Flag of Boyacá
Central Boyacá Province
Northern Boyacá Province
Western Boyacá Province
Eastern Boyacá Province
Gutiérrez Province
La Libertad Province
Lengupá Province
Márquez Province
Neira Province
Ricaurte Province
Sugamuxi Province
Tundama Province
Valderrama Province
Boyacá Frontier District
Boyacá Special Handling Zone
See also: List of municipalities in Boyacá

5°48′N 72°48′W / 5.800°N 72.800°W / 5.800; -72.800

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