Riohacha

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Riohacha

View of the beach front.


Flag	Seal

Location in the Department of La Guajira.

Region

Caribbean Region (Colombia)

Department

Department of La Guajira^*

Foundation

1535

Mayor

Ruth Berardinelli de Obregon (Temporary)

Area

- City

km²

Elevation

5 m

Population

- City (2005 est.)

99,472 [1]

- Urban

91,906 [[2]]

^*Riohacha metropolitan area is yet to be determined.

Website:
www.alcaldiaderiohacha.gov.co

Riohacha or Rio Hacha (Ax River), is a city and municipality named after the nearby river that flows into the Caribbean Sea, capital city of the department of Guajira in Colombia's Caribbean Region. Founded by Nikolaus Federmann in 1535, it is mentioned several times in the novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, and seven times in the novel Chronicle of a Death Foretold, both written by Gabriel García Márquez. The city is one of Colombia's most important maritime commercial ports as well as a multicultural center for the Department. The area is mostly desertic and inhabited by Amerindians, predominantly of the Wayuu culture. During colonial times Riohacha was a very important port due to findings of vast amounts of pearls.

[edit] History

The Riohacha area was inhabited by Amerindians of the Wayuu culture, part of the larger Arawak group. The territory was discovered by Spanish sailor Alonso de Ojeda in 1498, though he never landed. A short time later, Juan de la Cosa, another Spanish explorer, landed on what is today called Cabo de la Vela (Cape of the Candle). In 1535, the German explorer Nikolaus Federmann founded a city with the name Nuestra Señora Santa Maria de los Remedios del Cabo de la Vela (Our Lady Saint Mary of the Remedies of the Cape of the Candle) at the place de la Cosa landed.

The Spanish discovered a vast amount of pearls in the city's area, which made the city a constant target for pirates. After the city was destroyed by a pirate raid, the city government relocated the city to the mouth of the Rancheria River, in order to confuse the pirates, and hopefully give the city time to rebuild before the next attack. The new city, named Nuestra Señora de los Remedios del Río de la Hacha (Our Lady of the Remedies of the Ax River), expanded peacefully for a short time in its new location, but pirate attacks soon resumed. The next major attack, led by the famous English pirate Francis Drake, took place in 1596, when Drake pillaged the city searching for gold and pearls.

During its period of independence from Spain, the port of Riohacha served many vessels fighting the Spanish for Colombian and Venezuelan independence. Many Riohachans also served in the revolutionary navy, most notably Admiral José Prudencio Padilla, who would come to be considered a hero in the revolutions of Colombia and Venezuela.

In the 18th century, Riohacha was incorporated to the Viceroyalty of New Granada as part of the province of Santa Marta.

In 1954, Riohacha City acquired municipality status, and in 1964 was declared capital of the new La Guajira Department.