Manizales - Mariquita Cableway, Historic aerial cableway between Manizales and Mariquita, Colombia
The Manizales-Mariquita Cableway was an aerial transport system that stretched across mountainous terrain, linking settlements at different elevations in central Colombia. The route passed through numerous stations and support towers designed to navigate the steep landscape.
Construction of the cableway occurred in phases between 1914 and 1922, with engineers facing significant challenges in implementing the design across the landscape. External circumstances resulted in the loss of critical documentation during the project.
The system connected coffee-growing regions to the Magdalena River ports, transforming the economic relationships between highland and lowland communities in central Colombia.
The system was equipped with multiple motors that enabled it to transport both goods and passengers through the mountainous region. The installation remained operational until the mid-twentieth century and is no longer in active use today.
One of the system's towers had to be locally rebuilt after original construction plans were lost during transport. This improvised structure later became a symbol of local engineering resourcefulness and problem-solving.
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