Cali, Capital city in Valle del Cauca, Colombia.
Cali sits at 1018 meters elevation in western Colombia and stretches along both banks of the Cali River in the Cauca Valley. The city combines residential neighborhoods with low houses, downtown high-rises and sprawling markets along main streets.
Spanish explorer Sebastián de Belalcázar founded the settlement in 1536 as an agricultural outpost. It grew over the centuries into Colombia's third largest metropolitan area.
Every evening dance schools and clubs open their doors to local salsa dancers who practice steps on tables and small stages. The archaeological museum displays pottery and tools from indigenous peoples who lived here before Spanish arrival.
The Masivo Integrado de Occidente bus system connects all districts with dedicated lanes complemented by regular taxis and buses. Most sights are in the center or in northern neighborhoods along the river.
The annual sugarcane fair brings together agricultural exhibitions, carnival parades and regional food stalls in a month-long festival. Local farmers demonstrate techniques for growing and processing sugarcane that have been passed down through generations.
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