Arauca Department

Arauca Department is an administrative region in northeastern Colombia that stretches along the Venezuelan border and is defined by wide plains. The landscape is crossed by several rivers belonging to the Orinoco watershed, flowing through open grasslands.

The territory gained department status in 1991 after previously being administered as an intendency. This conversion brought the area a new standing within the Colombian administrative framework.

The plains are home to six indigenous communities who inhabit and maintain their traditional territories across generations. Some of these groups have preserved their own languages and ways of life, visible in their settlements and daily routines.

Travel to the region usually starts from the capital, from where roads lead to the different municipalities. The best time to visit is during the dry season, when paths through the plains are easier to navigate.

The oil fields in the area are among the most important extraction sites in the country and have shaped the local economy for decades. Extraction has influenced the development of many communities and brought new connections to the remote plains.

Location: Colombia

Inception: 1991

Capital city: Arauca

Elevation above the sea: 132 m

Reference: ARA

Shares border with: Casanare Department, Boyacá Department, Vichada Department, Apure

Website: http://arauca.gov.co

GPS coordinates: 6.61667,-70.98333

Latest update: December 12, 2025 23:25