Betéitiva | |
Settlement Type: | Municipality and town |
Mapsize: | 250px |
Pushpin Mapsize: | 300 |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Colombia |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | Colombia |
Subdivision Type1: | Department |
Subdivision Name1: | Boyacá Department |
Subdivision Type2: | Province |
Subdivision Name2: | Valderrama Province |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Leader Name: | Edwin Rene Pava Rincon (2020-2023) |
Established Title: | Founded |
Established Date: | 14 October 1556 |
Founder: | Juan Salamanca |
Area Total Km2: | 123 |
Area Urban Km2: | 6 |
Population As Of: | 2015 |
Population Total: | 2069 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Population Urban: | 389 |
Timezone: | Colombia Standard Time |
Utc Offset: | -5 |
Elevation M: | 2575 |
Website: | Official website |
Betéitiva (pronounced as /es/) a town and municipality in the Valderrama Province, part of the Colombian department of Boyacá. The urban centre of Betétiva is situated at 250km (160miles) from the capital Bogotá, 110km (70miles) from the department capital Tunja and 45km (28miles) from Sogamoso. The municipality, located on the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, borders in the north Belén, in the northeast Paz de Río, in the east Tasco, in the southeast Corrales and in the west with Busbanzá and Cerinza.[1]
The name Betéitiva is derived from the Chibcha name of the cacique Betacín of the village and means "chief of the anchovy". According to Muisca myths, Betacín fell in love with the daughter of the iraca of Sugamuxi and after her dismissal he retreated in the area now known as Betéitiva.[1] [2]
The area of Betéitiva before the Spanish conquest was inhabited by the Muisca, organized in their loose Muisca Confederation. Different rulers were reigning the central highlands of the Colombian Andes and Betéitiva was ruled by cacique Betacín.
Modern Betéitiva was founded on October 14, 1556 by Juan Salamanca.[1]
Potatoes and dairy farming are the most important economical activities of the municipality.[1]