10 Fun Facts about Bogota, Colombia, Bogota, Colombia

At 8,661 feet (2,640 meters) above sea level, Bogotá is the world’s third-highest capital. Framed by the dramatic peaks of the Eastern Andes, the city sits at the crossroads of indigenous heritage, colonial history, and a vibrant urban culture. While many travelers skip Bogotá in favor of touristic Cartagena and its Caribbean beaches, Colombia’s capital is well worth a stop. Here are ten fascinating facts that capture the spirit of Bogotá.

It is hard to picture today, but some 30,000 years ago, the bustling metropolis was a massive lake. The Bogotá River carved a gorge and drained the lake. This geological event left behind a fertile plain of mud and clay where the Muisca people settled and farmed, surrounded by protective mountains they considered sacred.

For sweeping views of the former lake basin, hike or take the cable way up to the famous Monseratte viewpoint, or better, bike up to the slightly higher Lady of Guadalupe who has the advantage of not only towering over the city, but also over Monseratte Hill for the best views. In Muisca times, Guadalupe Hill was called Tchiguachi in their Chibcha language, meaning “Mountain of the Moon”, dedicated to the goddess Huitaca, who embodied sensuality, dance, and arts. In 1538, the hill was renamed after the Virgin of Guadalupe by the Spaniards who planted a cross on its summit before the chapel was erected in 1656: our Lady of Guadalupe was brought from Spain to represent the mountain’s patron saint and installed where it still overlooks Bogotá today at 10,826 feet (3,300 meters) above sea level. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).