Barranquilla
View of Barranquilla's skyline, the mouth of the Magdalena river and the Caribbean sea in the background
Flag Seal
Map of the Atlántico Department.
Country	Colombia
Region	Caribbean
Department	Atlántico
Foundation	April 7, 1813
Government
- Mayor	Alejandro Char Chaljub (Radical Change)[1]
Area
- City	166 km² (64. In Political geography and International politics, a country is a Political division of a geographical entity Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Because of its natural structure Colombia can be divided into six very distinct Natural regions. The Caribbean Region or Caribbean Coast Region is a natural region of Colombia mainly composed of eight Departments located contiguous to Colombia is a unitary republic conformed by thirty-two departments ( Spanish: departamentos, sing Events 529 - First draft of Corpus Juris Civilis (a fundamental work in Jurisprudence) is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Year 1813 ( MDCCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Radical Change ( Cambio Radical) is a Political party in Colombia. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 1 sq mi)
Population (2005)[2]
- City	1,113,016
- Metro	1,109,067
Website: www.alcaldiabarranquilla.gov.co

Barranquilla, an industrial, portuary, and special district, is a city and municipality located in northern Colombia by the Caribbean sea. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large Metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. For the region see Caribbean. The Caribbean Sea (kəˈrɪbiən or /ˌkærɨˈbiːən/ is a tropical Sea in the Western Hemisphere The capital of the Atlántico Department, it is the largest industrial city and port on the Colombian Caribbean region and the fourth largest city of Colombia. The Caribbean Region or Caribbean Coast Region is a natural region of Colombia mainly composed of eight Departments located contiguous to Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. It lies strategically by the delta of the Magdalena River, serving as port for fluvial and maritime transportation. The Magdalena River (Spanish Río Magdalena) also called Yuma River (Spanish Río Yuma) is the principal River of Colombia, running It is also known as the cradle of Colombian aviation and for its carnival. Barranquilla's Carnaval ( Spanish: Carnaval de Barranquilla) is a carnival with traditions that date back to the 19th century

Geography

Satellite View of Barranquilla.

The city's topographical layout is simple: to the east, it's bordered by the Magdalena river; to the west, it's bordered by a bypass called Circunvalar. The city grid is divided in the typical Colombian way: calles (streets, going from north to south) and carreras (avenues, going from east to west). Downtown is located near the river, on the eastern edge of town. The two main axes of the city are Olaya Herrera Avenue, which goes from downtown to the western edge of town, becoming the highway to nearby Cartagena de Indias, and Murillo Street, which goes from the southern, working-class neighborhoods to the city's downtown. Upper and middle-class neighborhoods are to the west and north of the city.

Climate

The climate is hot and very humid. Daytime temperature usually remains around 32°C (82°F). Nevertheless, from late November to early April, the trade winds more or less cool it to a more comfortable temperature during the day. The trade winds (also called trades) are the prevailing pattern of easterly winds found in the Tropics near the Earth's Equator. During the evening and through the night the temperature can change due to the strong winds it receives. The rainy seasons are from April to June and from August to November, when some streets flood producing "arroyos" (streams) that are very dangerous, given the lack of appropriate rain drainage in some sectors of town.

History

Corner of 72nd Street and 53rd Avenue, Barranquilla, Colombia. At left, one of the most important buildings of the city: Miss Universo.

It is known as Colombia's Golden Gate (Spanish: La Puerta de Oro de Colombia) as well as La Arenosa (the Sandy City). While the city bears no established record of its foundation, its settlement or foundation can be traced back to at least 1629. However, its residents traditionally have come to commemorate the city's "birthday" as the date when Barranquilla was legally established as a village, April 7, 1813. Events 529 - First draft of Corpus Juris Civilis (a fundamental work in Jurisprudence) is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Year 1813 ( MDCCCXIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common By 1834 Barranquilla had a population of 11,212 (official census), which made it slightly smaller than Santa Marta and not quite half the size of Cartagena. Santa Marta is a city and municipality located in northern Colombia by the Caribbean sea and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains capital of Cartagena de Indias (kaɾtaˈhena ð̞e ˈin̪d̪jas in Spanish; the usual English pronunciation is ˌkɑrtəˈheɪnə deɪ ˈɪndiəs is a large city ^[3] As Barranquilla became an important port, it also served as a haven for immigrants from Europe during World War I and World War II, and for different waves of immigrants from the Middle East and Asia. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East.

Barranquilla was Colombia's first port and is proud of its level of industrialization and modernity, which earned it the name of Colombia's Golden Gate. The first airport in South America was also built in Barranquilla, and the world's second oldest commercial airline doing business today was founded there, SCADTA (now known as Avianca). The Colombo-German Air Transport Society ( Spanish: Sociedad Colombo Alemana de Transporte Aéreo) or SCADTA, was Latin America's first Airline Avianca SA ( Spanish Acronym: Aerovías del Continente Americano, formerly Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia) has been the national The Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport, the first airport built in South America (1919), is served by domestic and international flights. Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Ernesto Cortissoz is located in Barranquilla, Colombia and owes its name to one of the pioneers Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

In the 1940s, Barranquilla was the second largest city in Colombia and one of the most modern cities on the Caribbean and South America, but sadly later local administrations, given to widespread corruption, brought about a decline in the standard of living. As government investment increased in other Colombian cities, Barranquilla's national stature was surpassed. Barranquilla still being an important city of Colombia but as of the 2005 census, Barranquilla was Colombia's fourth largest city after Bogotá (capital), Medellín, and Cali. Bogotá —officially named Bogotá DC (DC for " Distrito Capital " which means "Capital District" formerly called Santa Fe de Bogotá Medellín, officially the Municipio de Medellín (Spanish or Municipality of Medellín (English pronunciation mɛdəˈjiːn or, Spanish: or) is the second Barranquilla is first on the most populated city on the Atlantic cost of Colombia with a 2. 6%, (1'112. 837) [1], Santa Fe de Bogota (Country Capital)

Education

View of the Parque de los Fundadores near the Romantic Museum

Barranquilla is home to a number of universities, like the Universidad del Norte, Universidad del Atlántico, the Universidad Metropolitana, the Universidad Autónoma del Caribe, the Universidad Simón Bolívar, and the Corporación Universitaria de la Costa. A university is an institution of Higher education and Research, which grants Academic degrees in a variety of subjects The Universidad del Norte is the main private academic center for higher education in northern Colombia. The Universidad del Atlántico (University of the Atlantic is the main public academic center for higher education in Barranquilla, Colombia. There are also many bilingual schools, such as Marymount International School Barranquilla, Karl C. Marymount International School of Barranquilla (also referred to simply as "Marymount" or "MMI" is a private co-educational Catholic school catering to students from Early Parrish, Altamira International School, Lyndon B. Johnson, Deutsche Schule Barranquilla, and the British International School, generally accessible to the city's elite. Barranquilla is also home to a number of more traditional Catholic schools, like Colegio Biffi La Salle, Liceo de Cervantes, Colegio Sagrado Corazón, and the Jesuits' Colegio San José. The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order Other schools include the Colegio Hebreo Unión (a Jewish school), and Presbyterian academic centers like the Colegio Americano. The city is also remarkable for having one of highest literacy rates in the country: 96. 4 percent and also one of the most bilingual young rates[2].

Economy

Barranquilla is home to a thriving trading industry, as well as to a number of staples of the Colombian economy, such as Bavaria S.A., Carulla-Vivero, Monómeros, Olímpica y SAO, Expreso Brasilia S. Bavaria Brewery (Cervecería Bavaria formally known as Bavaria S A. and Cementos Argos. The city is the birthplace of Grupo Santo Domingo, one of the major business conglomerates in Colombia.

Barranquilla

Media

The city's two main newspapers are El Heraldo[3] and La Libertad. Other dailies include newspapers of nationwide distribution, such as Bogotá's El Tiempo[4]. The local TV channel is Colombia's Caribbean regional network, Telecaribe. Telecaribe is a regional Television network for the Caribbean region of Colombia. Local radio includes the customary assortment of tropical music and news. Musica tropical or tropical music (Música tropical is a broad term for vocal and instrumental music with "tropical" flavor usually associated with the Afro-Caribbean The two main highbrow alternatives, Radiodifusora Nacional de Colombia and Uninorte FM Estéreo, broadcast on 640 AM and 103. 1 FM, respectively.

Transportation

A typical public transportation bus.

Public transportation in Barranquilla mainly consists of buses and taxis. The main bus terminal is located near the southern edge of town, at the end of Murillo Street. A bus rapid transit system called Transmetro, similar to Bogotá's TransMilenio, will begin operating by late 2007. Transmetro is a Bus Rapid Transit system of Guatemala City, Guatemala. The TransMilenio is a Bus rapid transit

Recently, an illegal form of transportation denominated mototaxismo developed. A regular motorcycle is used to carry a passenger for a lower fare than a bus or taxi. MotorCycle is the title of a 1993 album by Rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records. This unregulated and potentially dangerous practice has led to protests by the legally operating transport companies and drove many of them into bankruptcy.

The city's airport, the Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport, receives domestic and international flights. Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Ernesto Cortissoz is located in Barranquilla, Colombia and owes its name to one of the pioneers Domestic flights are mainly operated by Avianca. Avianca SA ( Spanish Acronym: Aerovías del Continente Americano, formerly Aerovías Nacionales de Colombia) has been the national

The port of Barranquilla is located by the Magdalena River, and accessible to ships coming from the sea thanks to dredge ships, that constantly make way for the ship canals, named Canal de Acceso (Access Canal). Dredging is an Excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater in shallow seas or Fresh water areas with the purpose of A ship canal is a Canal especially constructed to carry Ocean -going Ships as opposed to Barges Ship canals can be enlarged barge canals

Culture

View of Barranquilla from the Magdalena River. The Magdalena River (Spanish Río Magdalena) also called Yuma River (Spanish Río Yuma) is the principal River of Colombia, running

Literature

Barranquilla was home to Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez during his early years as journalist and bears substantial weight on his literary production. Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez (born March 6 1927 is a Colombian García Márquez's old bohemian hangout, La Cueva, has been restored and is open to the public as an artsy bar. It was here that the writer met with the Grupo de Barranquilla, an informal group of local writers and journalists. A writer is anyone who creates a written work although the word usually designates those who write creatively or professionally as well as those who have written in many different forms A journalist (also called a newspaperman) is a person who practices Journalism, the gathering and dissemination of information about current events trends

Music

Barranquilla is lovingly known as Curramba, La Bella (Curramba, The Beautiful One). Great musicians hail from Barranquilla, like international recording artist Shakira and Billboard-award winning Rock Band The Monas. Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born February 2 1977 known simply as Shakira Other local celebrities include Esthercita Forero, a popular composer and singer, also known as "The Bride of Barranquilla. "

Along the carnival the city celebrated the Festival of Orchestras competing for the Congo de Oro.

The city has been a meca for the caribbean traditional music (rhytms like cumbia which come way back in time from Spanish colonization era) as well as a place for creation of new rhythms, specially tropical ones (related to its location in the caribbean), back in the first half of the XXth century the city was the birthplace of Merecumbé, Porro, Raspacanilla and so on and was a critical point in terms of the spreading of Cuban Salsa trhoughout South America.

Other events in the city are Barranquijazz (a jazz festival as well as numerous salsa music spots) and the Miche Rock Festival, which is a small and young yet ever growing event which supports local and regional rock, metal, punk rock and alternative rock bands which are mostly in the underground scene of the city. Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Salsa music is a diverse and predominantly Latin American Caribbean genre that is popular across Latin America and among Latinos abroad The Miche Rock Festival has been organized for less than a decade now with huge support from the local audience.

Sports

Though baseball is popular, the locals fervently follow Barranquilla's soccer team, Atlético Junior. The team plays at the Estadio Metropolitano, one of the largest soccer stadiums in the Americas. Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Melendez is a multi-use All-seater stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Detroit Tigers shortstop Edgar Rentería, are known as "curramberos" (curramberos literally means party people, hinting at the locals' gregarious temperament). The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan, USA Edgar Enrique Rentería (pronounced as ˌɾenteˈɾia (born August 7 1975 in Barranquilla, Colombia) is a Shortstop in Major League Baseball The adjective for a woman from Barranquilla is barranquillera, while a man is a barranquillero.

Shooting sports, Basketball, Auto racing, Boxing, Golf and tennis tournaments also take place in the city. The shooting sports include those competitive sports involving tests of proficiency (accuracy and speed using various types of Guns such as Firearms and Airguns Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Auto racing (also known as automobile racing, motor racing or car racing) is a Motorsport involving Racing Cars It

Arts

Teatro Amira de la Rosa.

In 2006, the city unveiled a massive six-ton statue of famous local Shakira after she attended the groundbreaking ceremony of a school she is sponsoring in La Playa, a depressed suburb of Barranquilla. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born February 2 1977 known simply as Shakira [5]. The Teatro Municipal Amira de la Rosa is the city's main cultural scenario. Barranquilla is also home to the Cinemateca del Caribe, the Alliance Française (Barranquilla Chapter), the Centro Cultural Avianca, and the Centro Colombo Americano. Performances by touring bands or artists are usually held at the city's Coliseo Cubierto or within the facilities of the local Country Club.

Sofia Vergara, a Latino TV actress who works mainly in US-based shows and sitcoms, was also born in the city. Sofía Margarita Vergara (born July 10, 1972) is a Colombian model and actress.

Back in the 1940s the city lived a passionate modern art development: Alejandro Obregón, personal friend of Gabriel García Márquez lived in Barranquilla and Cartagena and many of the institutional buildings of that time have unique relation with modern artist frescos and wall paintings, sculptures and color design. A type of Aesthetics now lost but present in many houses of that time include many unique artwork in the entrance acces.

The city has also a Modern Art Museum, the MAMB (Museo de Arte Moderno de Barranquilla)as well as numerous art Galleries.

There is an art carnival as well which takes place in April, called Carnaval Internacional de las Artes (International Arts Carnival).

Fashion

Nina Garcia, a fashion director at Elle Magazine and judge on the Bravo reality television program Project Runway, was also born in this city. Nina Garcia (born Ninotchka Garcia in Barranquilla, Colombia on May 3, 1965) is a magazine editor who until August 18th 2008 acted as Elle is a Worldwide Magazine that focuses on Women 's Fashion, Beauty, Health, and Entertainment. Project Runway is a Peabody Award -winning American Reality television series on the Bravo network which focuses on Fashion design. The city is also developing a fashion industry with renown fashion designers Silvia Tcherassi, Amalín de Hazbún, Judy Hazbún and Paola Dangond.

Festivities

The Barranquilla's Carnival (Spanish: Carnaval de Barranquilla), which is celebrated four days before Ash Wednesday, is broadly recognized as one of the world's largest carnivals; residents claim it is second only to the carnival of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Barranquilla's Carnaval ( Spanish: Carnaval de Barranquilla) is a carnival with traditions that date back to the 19th century In the Western Christian Calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty days before Easter (excluding Sundays Carnival is a festival season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February and March The Brazilian Carnival, or Carnaval (Carnaval is an annual festival in Brazil held 4 days before Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld In November of 2003, UNESCO proclaimed it as one of 28 different "masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity"^[4]

With a predominantly Roman Catholic population, the city celebrates Christmas as not only a holy and special day but an entire season that goes from December 1st until January 6th. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 The Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity is a list maintained by UNESCO with pieces of Intangible culture considered relevant by that The city is filled with multicolored lights and most of houses are adorned with beautiful Christmas decorations being the Nativity the theme of the season, and some neighborhoods of the city are adorned. Also celebrating the "Dia de las Velitas". Día de las Velitas (Day of the Candles is one of the most observed and traditional holidays of Colombia. Most of the citizens also celebrate New Year's Eve. New Year's Eve is on December 31, the final day of the Gregorian year and the day before New Year's Day.

Sister Cities

Sister cities of Barranquilla include:

• Tampa, Florida
• Nanjing, People's Republic of China
• Kaohsiung City, Republic of China

Notes

External links

• (Spanish) Alcaldía de Barranquilla Municipality Page
• (English) Barranquilla travel guide from Wikitravel
• Barranquilla Free Zone
• (Spanish) Carnaval de Barranquilla Official Page on the Carnival
• (Spanish) Terminal Metropolitana de Transportes de Barranquilla (main bus terminal)
• (Spanish) Uninorte FM Estéreo (online broadcast)
• (Spanish) Zoológico de Barranquilla Official zoo page, small section in English
• (Spanish)Carnaval de Barranquilla 2008
• (Spanish)[http://www.colegioaleman.edu.co/ Deutsche Schule (German School) Website