Guainía Department, Administrative department in eastern Colombia
Guainía Department is an administrative territory in eastern Colombia that stretches between the Orinoco and Amazon river basins and covers more than 72,000 square kilometers (about 28,000 square miles). The area consists mostly of dense tropical forest and is crossed by numerous rivers that wind through the flat terrain and connect with one another.
The Colombian government created this department on July 4, 1991, separating it from the existing administrative structure of Vaupés. Before this division, the area was part of a larger administrative territory governed from distant capitals.
The name comes from the Guainía River, which flows through the territory and forms the border with Venezuela. Local communities live mainly in small settlements along the waterways and maintain traditional ways of life closely tied to the river and the forest.
The department includes two municipalities, with Inírida as the capital serving as the main access point for travelers. Visitors planning a trip should keep in mind that most routes and connections rely on waterways or flights.
The territory sits at the meeting point of three countries and shares its borders with both Venezuela and Brazil. Several protected natural reserves lie within its boundaries and preserve large stretches of untouched rainforest.
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