Tamalameque

Tamalameque is a town and municipality in the Colombian Department of Cesar. It was originally the site of a Chimila settlement, Thamara. Tamalameque is located on the right bank of the Magdalena River and borders Chimichagua and Pailitas in the north, Pelaya in the east, La Gloria in the south and in the west the departments of Bolívar (El Peñón) and Magdalena (El Banco).[1]

Tamalameque
town
Flag
Location of the municipality and town of Tamalameque in the Department of Cesar
CountryColombia
RegionCaribbean
DepartmentCesar
Founded29 September 1544
Founded byLorenzo Martín
Government
 • MayorJosé Ricardo Aguilar
(2016-2019)
Area
 • town511.31 km2 (197.42 sq mi)
 • Water97.1 km2 (37.5 sq mi)
 • Urban
30.66 km2 (11.84 sq mi)
Highest elevation
150 m (490 ft)
Lowest elevation
50 m (160 ft)
Population
 (2015)
 • town13,862
 • Density27/km2 (70/sq mi)
 • Urban
5,585
Time zoneUTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
WebsiteOfficial website

History

Tamalameque was first visited by the Bavarian conquistador Ambrosius Ehinger in 1531.[1] The first conquest expedition into the interior of Colombia, led by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada passed through Tamalameque in 1536.[1] The local Chimila resisted heavily against the conquistadors.[2]

Modern Tamalameque was founded on September 29, 1544 by Lorenzo Martín.[1][3]

Economy

Tamalameque, situated in an area dotted with wetlands and swamps at the Magdalena River, has an economy based on fishing, agriculture and livestock farming. Main agricultural products cultivated are rice and sorghum, and farther from the river bananas and yuca.[1]

References
  1. (in Spanish) Official website Tamalameque
  2. (in Spanish) Conquista rápida y saqueo cuantioso de Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada
  3. (in Spanish) Fundaciones de ciudades y poblaciones - Banco de la República

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