Ortega (Spanish pronunciation: [oɾˈteɣa]) is a town and municipality in the Tolima department of Colombia. Ortega is located at altitudes from 402 to 2,687 metres (1,319 to 8,816 ft) above sea level, and has a surface area of 945.93 square kilometres (365.23 sq mi). The average temperature ranges from 14 to 26 °C (57 to 79 °F).

Ortega
Municipality and town
View of the Cerros los Abechuchos in Ortega
Flag
Location of the municipality and town of Ortega in the Tolima Department of Colombia
Coordinates: 3°55′N 75°15′W
Country	Colombia
Department	Tolima
Government
• Mayor	Omar Iván Carrillo Ramírez (2020-2023)
Area
• Municipality and town	945.93 km2 (365.23 sq mi)
Elevation	2,687 m (8,816 ft)
Population  (2015)
• Municipality and town	45,524
• Density	48/km2 (120/sq mi)
• Urban	13,098
Demonym(s)	Orteguno
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Website	Official website

History

In 1572, a group composed of captain Diego Bocanegra, Luis de Morales, Vicente Valenzuela, Ambrosio de Morales Bocanegra, and forty soldiers that Diego Bocanegra had taken to conquer the native Pijao, established a town named Santiago de la Frontera. That first foundation was abandoned, due to Diego Bocanegra leaving for the troops commanded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, following a high court's mandate. In 1586, Diego Bocanegra undertook a second foundation and named the settlement Medina de las Torres. Because of the attacks by the Pijao on Medina de las Torres, the town disappeared. A third foundation was also unsuccessful because of the attacks by the Pijao.

Centuries later, on November 30, 1821, the Catholic Father Nicolás Ramírez rebuilt the town and named it Ortega, in an area of 98 square kilometres (38 sq mi).

Panorama

View of the Cerros de los Abechuchos in Ortega, Tolima

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