Bogotá

Bogotá is the capital and largest city of Colombia, a country in South America. It is also the political, economic, administrative, industrial, artistic, cultural, and sports center of the country. Bogotá was founded on August 6, 1538, by Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada.

Geography

Bogotá is located in the southeastern part of the Bogotá savanna (Sabana de Bogotá) at an average altitude of 2,640 meters above sea level. The Bogotá River crosses the savanna, forming Tequendama Falls (Salto del Tequendama) to the south. Tributary rivers form valleys with flourishing villages, whose economy is based on agriculture, livestock raising and artisan production.

Climate

Bogotá has a subtropical highland climate. The average temperature is 14.5 °C (58 °F), varying from 6 to 19 °C (43 to 66 °F) on sunny days to 10 to 18 °C (50 to 64 °F) on rainy days.

Health

Bogotá has a complex health system, both public and private. The city is home to some of the best hospitals in Latin America, such as the Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá and the Hospital Universitario San Ignacio. The city's health system is managed by the District Health Secretariat.

Education

Bogotá has numerous universities of national and international prestige. The city is Colombia's educational hub, with high quality universities and research centers. Some of the most important universities include the University of the Andes, National University of Colombia, and Javeriana University.

Culture

Bogotá is a city with a mixture of modern and colonial architecture. The cultural epicenter of Bogotá is the district of La Candelaria, the oldest district in the city and a hotspot for tourists. The city has numerous museums, such as the Gold Museum, which houses over 35,000 pieces of gold and other materials from all the major pre-Hispanic cultures in Colombia.

Transportation

Bogotá's main airport is El Dorado International Airport. The city is also served by a network of highways and bus routes. The city's public transportation system includes the TransMilenio, a rapid transit bus system, and a bike path network.