Cauca Department, Administrative department in southwestern Colombia
Cauca is an administrative division in southwestern Colombia that stretches from the Pacific coast to the mountain ranges of the Andes, covering rainforest, valleys, and highland areas. The landscape shifts between low coastal plains and mountainous zones crossed by rivers and vegetation.
The administrative division was created in 1857 with Popayán named as its capital. The region played an important role during colonial times and later in political events of 19th-century Colombia.
The population consists of indigenous communities, Afro-Colombian groups, and mestizo inhabitants, each maintaining their languages, traditions, and agricultural practices.
The area divides into 42 municipalities connected by mountain roads and coastal routes. Travelers should expect varying altitudes and climate zones depending on whether they move along the coast or through the mountain areas.
The Colombian Massif within this area is the source of five major rivers that flow in different directions and irrigate the land. These water sources supply large parts of Colombia and reach as far as the Amazon and the Pacific.
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