Mayor: Gustavo Petro Location: Northern South America Geography: Located near the geographic center of Colombia, Bogotá sits 8661 feet above sea level on a high plateau in the Andes mountains. The extended region is also known as "Altiplano Cundiboyacense" or "high plateau of Cundinamarca and Boyacá". History: Bogotá was the center of the Muiscas civilization before Spanish explorers colonized the area, beginning with the first settlement in 1538 named "Santa Fé de Bacatá". Bacatá, which became the modern Bogotá, became one of the centers of Spanish colonization in South America. Industry: Tourism, food processing, textiles, chemicals Did You Know? Bogotá, known as the “Athens of South America” for its scholarly tradition and sheer number of schools, colleges, universities and libraries, shares Chicago’s dedication to public education initiatives. Flag Description: Three horizontal bands consisting of yellow (top, double-width),
blue, and red.
PAST BOGOTÁ – CHICAGO PROGRAMS
2011 July 20
The Bogota Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International hosted a public Colombian Independence Day reception in Chicago Cultural Center's Preston Bradley Hall.
