Cesar is a department of Colombia. It is in the north of the country in the Caribbean region, bordering to the north with La Guajira Department, to the west with the Magdalena Department and Bolivar Department, to the south with Santander Department, and to the west with the Norte de Santander Department, also bordering the country of Venezuela.
Valledupar became its capital when the Department was created in 1967 by decree. The "Cesar" name is an adaptation from the amerindian name Chet-tzar to Spanish, which means "calm water", name also of the same river (Cesar River) and the valley that its basin crosses, most of the department.
Before the Spanish conquerors arrived, the territory was populated by numerous groups of Amerindians, among them the Malibu tribe, Tairona tribe, Arhuaco tribe, Motilones tribe, Eupari tribe, Guatapuries tribe, Chimila tribe and Tupe tribe; all of them part of the Caribe Indians family. The first European conqueror to arrive at these lands was Pedro de Badillo in 1529, and in 1531 the German Ambrosius Ehinger, who invaded the territory, and because of encountering a great resistance by the local tribes he ordered the execution of their chief Upar. The colonization finally was accomplished by Capuchin friars who subdued the Indians.
Lower lands present a warm and dry climate, annual precipitations are less than 1,300 mm a year. The mountainous regions are characterized by low temperatures and precipitations ranging more than 2,000 mm a year.
Municipalities
|
All our photos can be licensed for commercial and non-commercial use, (unless otherwise specified).