View source for Riohacha

{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Riohacha
| type               = [[Districts of Colombia|District]] and city
| nickname           =
| motto              =
| image_skyline      = {{Photomontage
| photo1a                 = Riohachacity.jpg
| photo2a                 = Riohacha-Parque de los cañones.jpg
| photo2b                 =
| photo3a                 = Playa tranquila, al fondo edificio Mar Azul (Guajira) - panoramio.jpg
| photo4a                 =
| spacing                 = 1
| position                = center
| color_border            = white
| color                   = white
| size = 270
| footmontage =
}}
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = '''From top to bottom:''' View of Riohacha beachfront, Canyon Park, Beach.
| image_flag         = Flag of Riohacha.svg
| image_seal         = Escudo_de_Riohacha.svg
| image_map          = Colombia - La Guajira - Riohacha.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Riohacha in the Department of La Guajira. Municipality (red), city (black dot).
| pushpin_map        = Colombia
| pushpin_label_position = left
| subdivision_type   = [[Country]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Natural Regions of Colombia|Region]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Departments of Colombia|Department]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Colombia}}
| subdivision_name1  = [[Caribbean Region of Colombia|Caribbean]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Department of La Guajira|La Guajira]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Rafael Ceballos Sierra ([[Colombian Liberal Party|L]])<ref>{{in lang|es|cap=yes}} [http://www.registraduria.gov.co/reselec2007_esc/1028/x.html Colombian Registry of the Civil State: 2007 election results]</ref>
| established_title  = Foundation
| established_date   = 1545
| founder            = [[Nikolaus Federmann]]
| area_magnitude     =
| area_total_km2     = 3120
| area_land_km2      =
| area_water_km2     =
| area_water_percent =
| area_urban_sq_mi   =
| area_urban_km2     = 25.53
| area_metro_sq_mi   =
| area_metro_km2     =
| population_as_of   = 2023 Census
| population_note    =
| population_total   = 222541
| population_footnotes = <ref>https://www.dane.gov.co/files/varios/informacion-capital-DANE-2019.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Telefónicas |first=Telencuestas-Encuestas |title=Cuántos habitantes tenía Riohacha, La Guajira en 2023 |url=https://telencuestas.com/censos-de-poblacion/colombia/2023/la-guajira/riohacha |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=Telencuestas |language=es}}</ref>
| population_metro   =
| population_urban   = 126103
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone]]
| utc_offset         = -05
| timezone_DST       =
| utc_offset_DST     =
| coordinates        = {{Coord|11|32|39|N|72|54|25|W|region:CO-LAG_type:city(130,000)|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m        = 5
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = 440001
| area_code          = 57 + 5
| blank_name         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info         = [[Semi-arid climate#Hot semi-arid climates|BSh]]
| website            = [http://www.riohacha-laguajira.gov.co/ Official website] {{in lang|es}}
| footnotes          = <sup>*</sup>Riohacha metropolitan area is yet to be determined.
}}
'''Riohacha'''{{efn|Also '''Rio Hacha''' and '''Rio de la Hacha''' (English: "river of the axe").}} ({{IPA|es|rjoˈa.tʃa}}; [[Wayuu language|Wayuu]]: {{lang|guc|Süchiimma}}{{efn|English: "river land".}}) is a city in the [[Riohacha Municipality]] in the northern [[Caribbean region (Colombia)|Caribbean Region]] of [[Colombia]] by the mouth of the [[Ranchería River]] and the [[Caribbean Sea]]. It is the capital city of the [[La Guajira Department]]. It has a sandy beach waterfront.
Founded by [[conquistador]] [[Nikolaus Federmann]] in 1535, Riohacha was named after a local legend, "The legend of the Axe". Because of the powerful [[rain shadow]] of the [[Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta]], the area is mostly [[desert]]ic. It is inhabited primarily by [[Amerindians]], predominantly the [[Wayuu]] ethnic group. During colonial times, Riohacha was a very important port, as divers could retrieve vast numbers of [[pearl]]s from the harbor.
In the second half of the 20th century, the city developed as one of Colombia's medium important, maritime commercial ports. It is also a multicultural center for La Guajira Department. The city is mentioned several times in novels written by Colombian writer [[Gabriel García Márquez]], who won the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]]. Among his important works are ''[[One Hundred Years of Solitude]]'', ''[[Love in the Time of Cholera]]'', and ''[[Chronicle of a Death Foretold]]''.
==Place Name==
The place name Riohacha has existed since the same period of the Spanish land conquest and colonization in La Guajira (1526-1536). There are three different hypotheses about its origin, all of them related to the exploration of the area of the mouth of a river in the middle part of the La Guajira Peninsula. The first hypothesis recounts the rescue that a young indigenous man makes of a lost and thirsty Spanish battalion, guiding them towards the encounter with the river; as a reward, the captain gives the native an axe and baptizes the place as El Río de La Hacha. The second hypothesis speaks of the same Spanish battalion whose Captain loses his emblematic axe when crossing said river; as a consolation he baptizes it Río de La Hacha. The third hypothesis documents the discovery of a beautiful axe buried on the river bank by a battalion of European explorers, who until now believed they were the first to arrive at that place. In this way, they called it Río de la Hacha.
The word Süchiimma means, in the Wayuunaiki language, Land of the River: Süchii (river) and Mma (land). The city is also known as Portal de Perlas (alluding to its pearl origin), the Capital of the Magical Arreboles (the most beautiful sunsets in the Colombian Caribbean) and the Mestiza del Nordeste (for its rich multiculturalism and the Trade Winds of the Northeast).
==History==
[[Image:Catedral de Riohacha.png|thumb|left|200px|Cathedral of Riohacha]]
The Riohacha area was long inhabited by American Indians of the [[Wayuu]] culture, part of the larger [[Arawak peoples|Arawak]] group. The first European to visit the area was the [[Spanish people|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 Sail, so called because of its shape). 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 Sail) at the place where de la Cosa had landed.
The Spanish discovered a vast amount of [[pearl]]s in the city's area.<!-- In the water? stored by natives? --> This treasure frequently attracted raids by [[pirate]]s. After the city was destroyed by a pirate raid, the city government relocated the city to the mouth of the [[Ranchería River]], in order to confuse the pirates, and to 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), expanded peacefully for a short time in its new location. Pirate attacks soon resumed. The next major attack, led by the famous English privateer [[Francis Drake]], took place in 1569, when Drake pillaged the city searching for [[gold]] and pearls.
In the 18th century, Riohacha was incorporated to the [[Viceroyalty of New Granada]] as part of the province of [[Santa Marta]]. During the battles for independence from [[Spain]], the port of Riohacha served many vessels fighting for Colombian and [[Venezuela]]n 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 1954, Riohacha City acquired municipality status, and in 1964 was declared capital of the new [[La Guajira Department]].
<gallery>
Image:Plaza Almirante Padilla.JPG|The Almirante Padilla Plaza in downtown Riohacha.
Image:Riohacha.JPG|Riohacha Beach.
</gallery>
==Culture==
*The [[National Festival of the Dividivi]] is celebrated every year from June 29 to July 1. The last day celebrates the creation of the Department of La Guajira.<ref>[http://www.sinic.gov.co/SINIC/ColombiaCultural/ColCulturalBusca.aspx?AREID=3&SECID=8&IdDep=44&COLTEM=215 {{in lang|es}} National System for Cultural Information: National Festival of the Dividivi]</ref>
==Transportation==
Riohacha has one [[List of airports in Colombia|airport]], the [[Riohacha Airport|Almirante Padilla Airport]]. It serves airlines covering the route to and from the Colombian capital city [[Bogotá]], the near cities of [[Valledupar]] and [[Santa Marta]], and the Caribbean resort island of [[Aruba]]. In September 2016 the low-cost carrier Easy Fly initiated service between Riohacha and [[Barranquilla]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elheraldo.co/economia/easy-fly-inicia-nueva-ruta-barranquilla-riohacha-286365|title = Easy Fly inicia nueva ruta Barranquilla a Riohacha| date=20 September 2016 }}</ref>
==Climate==
Riohacha, owing to the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, has a [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSh''), which owing to the extremely torrid temperatures is not that far above an [[arid climate]] despite receiving as much as {{convert|546|mm|in|2}} of rainfall per year. In stark contrast to temperate climates with even less rainfall that maintain lush environments, the hot temperatures cause a steppe-like environment. The rain falls almost exclusively in May and between August and November, and for the rest of the year there are a mere thirteen wet days out of 212 in an average year. Despite the lack of rainfall, humidity is high year round and adds to the uncomfortable heat.
{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|collapsed = Y
|location =  Riohacha ([[Almirante Padilla Airport]]), elevation {{convert|4|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1981–2010)
|Jan record high C = 39.2
|Feb record high C = 36.7
|Mar record high C = 39.8
|Apr record high C = 38.4
|May record high C = 38.0
|Jun record high C = 38.6
|Jul record high C = 38.1
|Aug record high C = 38.8
|Sep record high C = 39.4
|Oct record high C = 36.6
|Nov record high C = 35.8
|Dec record high C = 38.6
|year record high C = 39.4
|Jan record low C = 17.2
|Feb record low C = 17.0
|Mar record low C = 17.0
|Apr record low C = 17.2
|May record low C = 20.8
|Jun record low C = 20.0
|Jul record low C = 17.2
|Aug record low C = 19.8
|Sep record low C = 19.2
|Oct record low C = 20.0
|Nov record low C = 18.8
|Dec record low C = 16.8
|year record low C = 16.8
|Jan high C = 	32.5
|Feb high C = 	32.6
|Mar high C = 	32.8
|Apr high C = 	33
|May high C = 	33.5
|Jun high C = 	34.5
|Jul high C = 	35.2
|Aug high C = 	35.1
|Sep high C = 	33.7
|Oct high C = 	32.8
|Nov high C = 	32.2
|Dec high C = 	32.4
| year high C = 	33.4
|Jan mean C = 	27.1
|Feb mean C = 	27.2
|Mar mean C = 	27.4
|Apr mean C = 	28.0
|May mean C = 	28.8
|Jun mean C = 	29.7
|Jul mean C = 	29.9
|Aug mean C = 	29.5
|Sep mean C = 	28.5
|Oct mean C = 	28.0
|Nov mean C = 	27.7
|Dec mean C = 	27.3
| year mean C = 	28.3
|Jan low C = 	22.3
|Feb low C = 	22.7
|Mar low C = 	23.5
|Apr low C = 	24.5
|May low C = 	25.2
|Jun low C = 	25.6
|Jul low C = 	25.6
|Aug low C = 	25.3
|Sep low C = 	24.5
|Oct low C = 	24.0
|Nov low C = 	23.6
|Dec low C = 	23.0
| year low C = 	24.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 	3.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 	1.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 	5.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 	31.3
|May precipitation mm = 	75.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 	51.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 	16.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 	50.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 	142.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 	148.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 	75.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 	31.0
|year precipitation mm = 	634.1
| Jan precipitation days = 	1
| Feb precipitation days = 	1
| Mar precipitation days = 	1
| Apr precipitation days = 	4
| May precipitation days = 	8
| Jun precipitation days = 	4
| Jul precipitation days = 	3
| Aug precipitation days = 	6
| Sep precipitation days = 	10
| Oct precipitation days = 	11
| Nov precipitation days = 	7
| Dec precipitation days =	3
| year precipitation days =	57
| Jan humidity = 	72
| Feb humidity = 	70
| Mar humidity = 	72
| Apr humidity = 	74
| May humidity = 	74
| Jun humidity = 	69
| Jul humidity = 	66
| Aug humidity = 	72
| Sep humidity = 	78
| Oct humidity = 	80
| Nov humidity = 	80
| Dec humidity = 	75
| year humidity =	73
|Jan sun = 	263.5
|Feb sun = 	228.7
|Mar sun = 	232.5
|Apr sun = 	201.0
|May sun = 	195.3
|Jun sun = 	234.0
|Jul sun = 	260.4
|Aug sun = 	251.1
|Sep sun = 	207.0
|Oct sun = 	207.7
|Nov sun = 	216.0
|Dec sun = 	241.8
|year sun =
|Jand sun = 	8.5
|Febd sun = 	8.1
|Mard sun = 	7.5
|Aprd sun = 	6.7
|Mayd sun = 	6.3
|Jund sun = 	7.8
|Juld sun = 	8.4
|Augd sun = 	8.1
|Sepd sun = 	6.9
|Octd sun = 	6.7
|Novd sun = 	7.2
|Decd sun = 	7.8
|yeard sun =
|source 1 = [[Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Colombia)|Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales]]<ref name=IDEAM1>{{cite web
|url=http://www.ideam.gov.co/documents/21021/553571/Promedios+Climatol%C3%B3gicos++1981+-+2010.xlsx/f28d0b07-1208-4a46-8ccf-bddd70fb4128
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815025712/http://www.ideam.gov.co/documents/21021/553571/Promedios%2BClimatol%C3%B3gicos%2B%2B1981%2B-%2B2010.xlsx/f28d0b07-1208-4a46-8ccf-bddd70fb4128
|archive-date=15 August 2016
|title=Promedios Climatológicos 1981–2010
|publisher=Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales
|language=es
|access-date= 17 June 2024
|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://bart.ideam.gov.co/cliciu/rioha/tabla.htm Clima: Climatografía de la principales ciudades]</ref>
|date = November 2011}}
{{Weather box|width=auto
|metric first=y
|single line=y
|collapsed = Y
|location =  Riohacha (Matitas), elevation {{convert|20|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1981–2010)
|Jan high C = 	32.9
|Feb high C = 	32.9
|Mar high C = 	33.5
|Apr high C = 	33.9
|May high C = 	34.0
|Jun high C = 	34.6
|Jul high C = 	35.2
|Aug high C = 	35.3
|Sep high C = 	34.4
|Oct high C = 	33.1
|Nov high C = 	32.5
|Dec high C = 	32.3
| year high C = 	33.8
|Jan mean C = 	26.6
|Feb mean C = 	26.8
|Mar mean C = 	27.3
|Apr mean C = 	27.6
|May mean C = 	27.7
|Jun mean C = 	28.4
|Jul mean C = 	28.9
|Aug mean C = 	28.5
|Sep mean C = 	27.7
|Oct mean C = 	27.1
|Nov mean C = 	27.1
|Dec mean C = 	26.7
| year mean C = 	27.5
|Jan low C = 	21.2
|Feb low C = 	21.5
|Mar low C = 	21.4
|Apr low C = 	22.3
|May low C = 	23.1
|Jun low C = 	23.9
|Jul low C = 	24.0
|Aug low C = 	23.7
|Sep low C = 	23.1
|Oct low C = 	23.0
|Nov low C = 	22.8
|Dec low C = 	21.8
| year low C = 	22.6
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 	14.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 	5.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 	16.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 	92.8
|May precipitation mm = 	155.4
|Jun precipitation mm = 	81.3
|Jul precipitation mm = 	46.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 	127.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 	200.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 	232.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 	171.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 	41.9
|year precipitation mm = 	1186.2
| Jan precipitation days = 	2
| Feb precipitation days = 	1
| Mar precipitation days = 	2
| Apr precipitation days = 	7
| May precipitation days = 	10
| Jun precipitation days = 	6
| Jul precipitation days = 	4
| Aug precipitation days = 	8
| Sep precipitation days = 	12
| Oct precipitation days = 	13
| Nov precipitation days = 	10
| Dec precipitation days =	4
| year precipitation days =	73
| Jan humidity = 	77
| Feb humidity = 	76
| Mar humidity = 	76
| Apr humidity = 	78
| May humidity = 	82
| Jun humidity = 	78
| Jul humidity = 	75
| Aug humidity = 	78
| Sep humidity = 	83
| Oct humidity = 	84
| Nov humidity = 	83
| Dec humidity = 	81
| year humidity =	79
|Jan sun = 	235.6
|Feb sun = 	194.8
|Mar sun = 	179.8
|Apr sun = 	147.0
|May sun = 	164.3
|Jun sun = 	207.0
|Jul sun = 	232.5
|Aug sun = 	223.2
|Sep sun = 	183.0
|Oct sun = 	182.9
|Nov sun = 	195.0
|Dec sun = 	220.1
|year sun =
|Jand sun = 	7.6
|Febd sun = 	6.9
|Mard sun = 	5.8
|Aprd sun = 	4.9
|Mayd sun = 	5.3
|Jund sun = 	6.9
|Juld sun = 	7.5
|Augd sun = 	7.2
|Sepd sun = 	6.1
|Octd sun = 	5.9
|Novd sun = 	6.5
|Decd sun = 	7.1
|yeard sun =
|source 1 = [[Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Colombia)|Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales]]<ref name=IDEAM1>{{cite web
|url=http://www.ideam.gov.co/documents/21021/553571/Promedios+Climatol%C3%B3gicos++1981+-+2010.xlsx/f28d0b07-1208-4a46-8ccf-bddd70fb4128
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815025712/http://www.ideam.gov.co/documents/21021/553571/Promedios%2BClimatol%C3%B3gicos%2B%2B1981%2B-%2B2010.xlsx/f28d0b07-1208-4a46-8ccf-bddd70fb4128
|archive-date=15 August 2016
|title=Promedios Climatológicos 1981–2010
|publisher=Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales
|language=es
|access-date= 17 June 2024
|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
==Notable people==
*[[Luis Antonio Robles Suárez]], first [[Afro-Colombian]] lawyer and politician.
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Riohachacity.jpg|View of the beachfront
File:Colombia-riohacha001.JPG|Malecon Beach
File:Colombie-riohacha003.jpg|Typical building
File:Colombie-riohacha004.jpg|Colombian Wayuu crafts on Avenida Primera (1st Ave.)
File:Colombie-riohacha005.jpg|Riohacha's Touristic Dock
File:Riohacha.jpg|Riohacha's sunrise from a rooftop
File:Ranchería River Mouth in Riohacha.jpg|Ranchería River emptying into Riohacha
File:Convento de los padres capuchinos, Riohacha Colombia.png|Cañones Park
File:Riohacha Carrera 6.jpg|One of the streets of the historic city center
File:Riohacha artesania.JPG|''Identidad'' Monument, erected in 2010
File:Centro Cultural Riohacha (Visto desde la playa) - panoramio.jpg|Departmental Cultural Center, seen from the beach
File:Antigua Aduana y Actual Secretaría de Cultura de Riohacha.jpg|Late 19th-century structure
File:Casa Márquez Iguarán en Riohacha.jpg|House where [[Gabriel García Márquez]] was conceived, according to his autobiography ''[[Living to Tell the Tale]]'' (2002)
File:Interior de la Universidad de La Guajira.jpg|[[Universidad de La Guajira|La Guajira University]], located in Riohacha
File:Alijuna y Wayú.jpg|Fishing between Alijuna and Wayú Caribbean coast, Riohacha
</gallery>
== Explanatory notes ==
{{Notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* {{In lang|es|cap=yes}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20070813150113/http://www.laguajira.gov.co/municipios/capital.htm  Gobernacion de La Guajira - Riohacha]
* {{In lang|es|cap=yes}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20041128094113/http://www.alcaldiaderiohacha.gov.co/ Riohacha official website]
{{Municipalities guajira department}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Capitals of Colombian departments]]
[[Category:1535 establishments in the Spanish Empire]]
[[Category:Municipalities of La Guajira Department]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1535]]
[[Category:Port cities in the Caribbean]]