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Bogota Facts & Worksheets

Bogota, formerly called Santa Fe de Bogota, is the capital city of the South American nation of Colombia.

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Bogota, formerly called Santa Fe de Bogota, is the capital city of the South American nation of Colombia, as well as the largest and most populous city in the country.

See the fact file below for more information on the Bogota or alternatively, you can download our 25-page Bogota worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY OF BOGOTA

  • The first inhabitants of Bogota were the indigenous Muisca. They were master goldsmiths who named it Bacatá meaning “planted fields.”
  • It was the center of their civilization before the Spanish explorers colonized the area on August 6, 1538, by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada.
  • He later on named it “Santa Fé de Bacatá” after his birthplace. By 1717, it was made the capital of the New Kingdom of Granada and was renamed “Bogota.”
  • Later, the city became one of the centers of Spanish colonial power and civilization in South America.
  • By the 18th century, the city saw its first signs of rebellion. The comuneros (commoners) fought against the colonizers but were immediately purged after their leader was hanged in 1782.
  • By the end of 19th century, Bogota was already inhabited by almost 100,000 residents.
  • Santafé de Bogota was renamed as Bogota in 1819 and business establishments began to grow in the city center such as the trolleybus (1840), Caja de Ahorros (bank-1846), telegraph (1865), Universidad Nacional de Colombia (national university-1867), Facatativá-Bogota railway (1889), Bavaria brewery (1890), The glass factory Fenicia (1896), etc.
  • Despite rapid development, Bogota citizens revolted against Spanish rule and set up a government of their own and called it the Republic of Colombia.

20th CENTURY BOGOTA

  • Bogota continued its development in the early 1900’s. The Compañia de Cementos Samper (cement company) was established and the electric streetcar began operating in 1909.
  • By 1918, the population had reached about 144,000 but the city was affected by the worldwide flu epidemic.
  • Other establishments were built over the years after the first world war such as Quinta de Bolívar museum (1922), the Capitolio Nacional (1926), Medellín-Bogota railway (1929), University City of National University of Colombia (1937), Estadio El Campín, Alfonso López Pumarejo Stadium, and the National Library building (1938).
  • The city expanded further after 1940. Large numbers of rural Colombians migrated in search of greater economic opportunities. Bogota was then called the “Athens of South America.”
  • On April 9, 1948, sparked by the murder of the charismatic political leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitan, people had a strike and raided the shops and burned the churches and official buildings.
  • Another act of violence happened when leftist guerrilla M-19 took the embassy of Dominican Republic in 1979. They again took over the Palace of Justice in 1985.
  • After the constitution was implemented in 1991, Bogota was confirmed as the capital of Colombia acquiring the name “Santa Fe de Bogota,” and changing the category from Special District to “Capital District.”
  • With the population close to six million in the 1990s, Bogota continued flourishing. However, the increase of drug trafficking activities exacerbated the ongoing civil conflict.

21th CENTURY BOGOTA

  • Bogota continued to face challenges as it suffered various civilian attacks over the years, including bombings and attacks of the presidential palace (2002 & 2003, 2006).
  • However, new business opportunities opened as malls opened with big brands such as Versace, Cartier, Forever 21, Dolce & Gabbana, Tiffany & Co. and many more.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Location – Bogota is located in the center of Colombia with an area of 612.74 square miles (1,587 sq km). It is located 8661 feet (2640 meters) above sea level on a plateau of the eastern mountain It is the largest city in the world at its elevation. In the extreme south of the city’s district, the world’s largest continuous paramo ecosystem can also be found.
  • Climate – Due to its high altitude and proximity to the equator, Bogota has mild to cool climate. Dry and rainy seasons alternate throughout the year.
  • The average monthly high temperatures range from 59ºF to 62ºF (14.9ºC – 16.7ºC) while the average monthly low temperatures range from 42ºF to 48ºF (5.6ºC – 8.7ºC).
  • The wettest months are April, May, September, October, and November, while December to February are the driest.
  • Economy – Being the city’s capital, it is the economic center and the headquarters of major commercial banks, Colombia’s main stock market, and the home to a number of government agencies.
  • Demographics – In 2020, Bogota’s population expanded to almost 11 million, mostly inhabited by 50% mestizos, 25% white population, 20% mulattoes (black-white mix) and zambos (black-Indian mix, 4% blacks, and 1% Indians.
  • Culture – Class structure in Bogota is based on a mixture of occupation, wealth, and ethnicity. The “marginal” classes occupy vast majority of the population. Men still occupy the dominant role within the household and are responsible as breadwinner, disciplinarian, and for maintaining family pride and position within the community. The Colombian female is expected to care for the children and household.
  • Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion in Bogota and in all of Colombia.
  • The country’s most widely played and watched sport is football. However, baseball and basketball are also popular especially with the younger generation.
  • The Bogota Carnival (Carnaval de Bogota) commemorates the founding of the city every August 5.
  • Bogota was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world in the mid 1990s. With increased security policies, the city’s crime rate is slowly reducing.

Bogota Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Bogota across 25 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Bogota worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Bogota, formerly called Santa Fe de Bogota, which is the capital city of the South American nation of Colombia, as well as the largest and most populous city in the country.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Bogota, Colombia Facts
  • Colombia
  • Bogota Beauty
  • Coat of Arms
  • Noted People of Bogota
  • People of Bogota
  • Let’s Talk!
  • A Better Place to Live
  • Bogota Special
  • Bogota Postcard
  • About our Capital

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Link will appear as Bogota Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, June 10, 2021

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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