Santa Marta (Spanish pronunciation: [ˌsanta ˈmaɾta]), officially Distrito Turístico, Cultural e Histórico de Santa Marta ("Touristic, Cultural and Historic District of Santa Marta"), is a city on the coast of the Caribbean Sea in northern Colombia. It is the capital of Magdalena Department and the fourth-largest urban city of the Caribbean Region of Colombia, after Barranquilla, Cartagena, and Soledad. Founded on July 29, 1525, by the Spanish conqueror Rodrigo de Bastidas, it was the first Spanish settlement in Colombia, its oldest surviving city, and second oldest in South America.[3] ^{[citation needed]} This city is situated on a bay by the same name and as such, it is a prime tourist destination in the Caribbean region.[4]

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Santa Marta
City
Top: Panorama of the Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta, 2nd left: Mirador in Cabo San Juan del Guia, Tayrona Natural Park, 2nd right: Santa Marta Cathedral, 3rd left: Statue of Simon Bolívar in Quinta of Saint Pedro Alejandrino, 3rd upper middle: Colombian National Pantheon in Barrio Mamatoco, 3rd lower middle: Santa Marta City Hall, 3rd right: Tribute to the Tayrona Ethnicity Square, Bottom: Panorama of Acuatico El Rodadero Park, from the Gaira area
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname:  America's Pearl (La Perla de America)
Location in the Department of Magdalena. Municipality (dark grey) City (red)
Santa Marta Location in Colombia
Coordinates: 11°14′31″N 74°12′19″W
Country	Colombia
Region	Caribbean Region
Department	Magdalena
Foundation	July 29, 1525
Founded by	Rodrigo de Bastidas
Named for	Martha
Government
• Mayor	Virna Johnson (2020–2023) (Fuerza Ciudadana)
Area
• City	2,393.65 km2 (924.07 sq mi)
• Urban	55.10 km2 (21.27 sq mi)
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Highest elevation [citation needed]	5,775 m (18,947 ft)
Population  (2018 Census[1])
• City	499,192
• Density	210/km2 (540/sq mi)
• Urban	455,299
• Urban density	8,300/km2 (21,000/sq mi)
	DANE
Demonym	Samario
Time zone	UTC-05:00 (Colombia Time)
Postal codes	470001–470017[2]
Area code	57 + 5
Website	Official website (in Spanish)

History

Pre-Colombian times

Before the arrival of Europeans, the South American continent was inhabited by a number of indigenous groups. Due to a combination of tropical weather, significant rainfall, and the destruction and misrepresentation of many records by Spanish conquistadors, our understanding of the peoples of this region is limited.

The Tairona formed mid- to large-size population centers, consisting of stone pathways, terraces, protected waterways, and spaces dedicated to agricultural produce. Their economy was primarily agricultural, cultivating corn, pineapple, yucca, and other local foodstuffs. The Tayrona are considered quite advanced for their time period. Surviving archaeological sites consisted of formed terraces and small scale underground stone channels. They also were known to actively collect and process salt, which was a significant trading commodity. We know that they traded with other indigenous groups along the coast and interior. Archaeological excavations have recovered significant works in pottery, stonework and gold.

Flag

Santa Marta's flag consists of two colors: white and blue. White symbolises peace, in that all are united without restriction. Blue symbolises the sky, the sea, the magic found in the horizon, and the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains.

Geography

Santa Marta is located on Santa Marta Bay of the Caribbean Sea in the province of Magdalena. It is 992 km from Bogotá and 93 km from Barranquilla. It is bordered to the north and west by the Caribbean and to the south by the municipalities of Aracataca and Ciénaga.

Climate

Santa Marta experiences a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh) with largely uniform temperatures year round. The dry season lasts from December to April, while the wet season lasts from May to November.

Economy

Santa Marta's economy is based on tourism, trade, port activities, fishing and agriculture, in that order.^{[citation needed]} The main agricultural products are: bananas, coffee, cocoa and cassava.^{[citation needed]}

Infrastructure

Santa Marta is a major port. Simon Bolivar International Airport (IATA: SMR ) is 16 km (10 mi) from the city centre. Historic figure Simon Bolivar died here, a significant event for South America as a whole. His villa known as La Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino is located just outside the city centre. As the main city centre is located close to the coast, the city itself has had difficulty controlling expansion. Although, technically a separate locality, Rodadero is part of Santa Marta itself.

Gallery

• 
  Quinta de San Pedro Alejandrino in Santa Marta
• 
  Casa de la Aduana y Alcapulca
• 
  Statue of Rodrigo de Bastidas

• 
  Rodadero, Santa Marta
• 
  Rodadero aquarium
• 
  Traditional house in Santa Marta

• 
  Lighthouse in the bay of Santa Marta
• 
  El Morro island off the coast of Santa Marta
• 
  Harbour of Santa Marta
• 
  Tayrona National Natural Park

• 
  The cathedral (inner view)
• 
  On central square
• 
  The cathedral

Notable people

• Carlos Vives, singer of vallenato music
• Radamel Falcao, professional footballer
• Taliana Vargas, actress and model
• Alejandro Palacio, singer of vallenato music
• Sergio Díaz-Granados Guida, IDB Executive Director for Colombia and Peru
• Maria Claudia Lacouture, executive director of the Colombo American Chamber of Commerce
• Carlos Valderrama, professional footballer
• Andrés Solano, professional footballer
• Johan Vonlanthen, professional footballer
• Arturo Reyes, football coach
• Inés María Zabaraín, journalist

Media appearances

Santa Marta is the production location of the TV series The White Slave.

See also

• Taganga
• Ciudad Perdida
• Tayrona National Natural Park

References

External links

• (in Spanish) UNIMAGDALENA
• (in Spanish) Bank of the Republic, economic history of Santa Marta
• Media related to Santa Marta at Wikimedia Commons
• Santa Marta travel guide from Wikivoyage
• "Santa Marta" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.

На других языках

[ru] Санта-Марта