Moniquirá

Moniquirá
Moniquirá
Municipality and town
	Church of Moniquirá
	Flag Seal
	Location of the municipality and town of Moniquirá in the Boyacá Department of Colombia.
	Moniquirá Location in Colombia Moniquirá Moniquirá (Boyacá Department)
	Coordinates: 5°55′N 73°30′W / 5.917°N 73.500°W
Country	Colombia
Department	Boyacá Department
Province	Ricaurte Province
Founded	26 March 1825
Founded by	Gaspar Ramírez
Government
• Mayor	José Clodomiro Ariza Pardo; (2020-2023)
Area
• Total	220 km2 (80 sq mi)
Elevation	1,669 m (5,476 ft)
Population (Census 2018)
• Total	20,848
• Density	95/km2 (250/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Website	Official website

Moniquirá is a town and municipality in Boyacá Department, Colombia, part of the subregion of the Ricaurte Province. It is known for its "bocadillos" and "panelitas de leche" (both little sweet cakes). Moniquirá borders San José de Pare in the north, Togüí and Arcabuco in the east, Gachantivá and Santa Sofia in the south and in the west with the department of Santander.^[2]

Etymology

In the Chibcha language of the Muisca, Moniquirá means "place of bath".^[3]

History

Before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores, Moniquirá was who were ruled by the cacique of Susa, part of the Muisca Confederation. Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada passed through Ubaza, part of Moniquirá on March 16, 1537.^[2]

Economy

Main economical activity of Moniquirá is agriculture; coffee, sugar cane and maize. The bocadillos industry provides employment for over 800 people.^[2]

Climate

Climate data for Moniquirá (Bertha), elevation 1,700 m (5,600 ft), (1981–2010)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	26.7 (80.1)	26.7 (80.1)	27.0 (80.6)	26.5 (79.7)	26.3 (79.3)	26.0 (78.8)	25.8 (78.4)	26.1 (79.0)	26.1 (79.0)	25.7 (78.3)	26.0 (78.8)	26.2 (79.2)	26.3 (79.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)	19.0 (66.2)	19.3 (66.7)	19.6 (67.3)	19.5 (67.1)	19.3 (66.7)	19.1 (66.4)	18.7 (65.7)	18.9 (66.0)	18.9 (66.0)	18.8 (65.8)	19.1 (66.4)	19.0 (66.2)	19.1 (66.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	12.8 (55.0)	13.1 (55.6)	13.6 (56.5)	14.5 (58.1)	14.4 (57.9)	13.4 (56.1)	12.5 (54.5)	12.6 (54.7)	13.0 (55.4)	13.9 (57.0)	14.1 (57.4)	13.2 (55.8)	13.4 (56.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	62.0 (2.44)	93.3 (3.67)	111.9 (4.41)	236.0 (9.29)	298.2 (11.74)	186.7 (7.35)	152.3 (6.00)	150.8 (5.94)	208.1 (8.19)	240.8 (9.48)	177.4 (6.98)	88.9 (3.50)	2,006.3 (78.99)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	11	15	15	24	26	20	19	20	23	25	20	14	234
Average relative humidity (%)	74	74	74	78	80	77	75	74	76	79	79	77	77
Mean monthly sunshine hours	176.7	163.7	151.9	126.0	120.9	141.0	151.9	148.8	141.0	145.7	153.0	167.4	1,788
Mean daily sunshine hours	5.7	5.8	4.9	4.2	3.9	4.7	4.9	4.8	4.7	4.7	5.1	5.4	4.9
Source: Instituto de Hidrologia Meteorologia y Estudios Ambientales^[4]