Guaviare Department, Administrative department in southern Colombia
Guaviare Department is an administrative division in southern Colombia that covers a broad area of rainforest and open plains. The region sits in a transition zone between the eastern Andes and the Amazon basin, where tropical vegetation meets savanna landscapes.
The department was created in 1991 through the new Colombian constitution, breaking away from earlier administrative structures. The shift to independent status marked a turning point for the political organization of this remote region.
Multiple indigenous communities, including the Carijona, Guahibo, Guayabero, and Nukak, maintain their traditional languages and customs throughout the department.
The department consists of four municipalities, with San José del Guaviare serving as the administrative center that houses most public facilities. The other three municipalities are spread across the territory and connected by roads and waterways.
The red rock formations and pre-Columbian rock paintings near San José attract visitors interested in the early inhabitants of the region. These artworks on natural stone walls show motifs of animals, human figures, and geometric patterns.
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