Floridablanca | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 07°13′N 73°04′W / 7.217°N 73.067°W | |
Country | Colombia |
Region | Andes |
Department | Santander |
Province | Soto |
Founded | 7 November 1817 |
Founded by | Javier Guerra de Mier |
Government | |
• Mayor | Hector Mantilla Rueda (2016-2019) |
Area | |
• Municipality | 100.3 km2 (38.7 sq mi) |
• Urban | 17.04 km2 (6.58 sq mi) |
Elevation | 925 m (3,035 ft) |
Population (2020 est.)[1] | |
• Municipality | 307,896 |
• Density | 3,100/km2 (8,000/sq mi) |
• Urban | 295,724 |
• Urban density | 17,000/km2 (45,000/sq mi) |
Demonym | Florideño |
Time zone | UTC-5 |
Area code | 57 + 7 |
Website | Official website |
Floridablanca (Spanish pronunciation: [floˌɾiðaˈβlaŋka], locally also simply Florida) is a municipality in the department of Santander situated at an altitude of 925 metres (3,035 ft) in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes. It is part of the metropolitan area of the departmental capital Bucaramanga. Floridablanca is known for its parks and the Piedra del Sol, a large rock with spirals and circles carved by the Guane over 1,000 years ago.[2] This city is home of the tallest statue of Jesus Christ in Colombia, "El Santisimo". The statue is 40 metres (130 ft) high and weighs 40 tonnes (88,000 lb).[3] The city is situated along the Ruta Nacional 45A, a branch of the Pan American Highway, connecting the capital Bogotá with Santa Marta at the Caribbean coast and Cúcuta as a gateway to Venezuela.[4] Together with other neighboring municipalities of Bucaramanga, Girón and Piedecuesta, Floridablanca is one of the growth areas for the capital of Santander with numerous constructions happening in recent years.[5]